FBI agents posed online gamblers in Oklahoma investigation

The Oklahoman newspaper reported Monday that undercover FBI employees won and lost thousands of dollars in a covert investigation of Oklahoma gambling operations, federal records show.

The agents used the tactic to build a case against online sports betting organisation Legendz Sports operating from Costa Rica, leading to the federal indictment of 34 people in the United States .

Legendz solicited bets of more than $1 billion on sporting events from gamblers in the United States, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Oklahoma grand jurors alleged in the indictment, which noted Legendz Sports had a call centre in Panama, Okla.

In related news, three men have been sentenced in Hartford, Connecticut to terms of imprisonment for their involvement in the now closed 44Wager.com sports betting website operating out of Costa Rica.

Appearing before US District Judge Vanessa L Bryant were Anthony Santoro (49) from New York, along with Michael Vitti (33) and Daniel Degruttola (33), both from Stamford.

Judge Bryant sent Santoro to jail for eight months, followed by three years of supervised release; Vitti to 10 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release; and Degruttola to three months of home confinement and three years of supervised release.

The Judge also ordered the forfeiture by Santoro of $25,000, whilst Vitti and Degruttola must forfeit $100,000 each.

The court was told that the illegal online sports betting enterprise generated revenues of almost $1.7 million between October 2010 and June 2011.