Canadian online sports betting defendant plead guilty

Three Canadian men arrested as part of the combined police action against illegal online sports betting dubbed Operation Amethyst  (see previous  report) pleaded guilty before an Ottawa judge Friday and now await sentencing.

Alleged ringleader Benedetto “Car Wash Boy” Manasseri (50) and associates Stephen Parrish (36) and Domenico Arecchi (48) appeared before Judge Hugh Fraser, the Ottawa Sun newspaper reports.

Crown prosecutor Julie Scott outlined the events leading to the arrests of 21 persons connected with the ring in November 2012 by a combined RCMP and Ottawa Police task force She said that the illegal websites used by the ring between February and July 2012 had netted almost Cdn$ 850,000 from illegal wagering on a wide range of sports.

“This might be the first organized crime gaming case in the country,” she said.

Sentencing dates will be set in August.

One of those arrested in the initial bust has already been convicted and sentenced; Gary Saikaley, who was the technical expert for the ring, pleaded guilty last (April) month and was sent to jail for 18 months.

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