Illegal online sports betting ring busted in San Diego

The US Attorney’s Office in San Diego has advised in a press release that local brothers Jan and Erik Portocarrero and Joseph Barrios have pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges involving an illegal international sports-gambling ring that made millions of dollars.

Prosecutors said that the brothers ran an Internet and telephone gambling enterprise called “Macho Sports” for more than a decade from offices in Lima, Peru. Barrios was a major bookmaker for the operation.

Authorities say the company took bets from customers throughout California, strong-armed debtors and laundered proceeds.

An FBI investigation began in 2011 and led to 18 arrests in Los Angeles, San Diego and Norway, where Erik Portocarrero lived.

Authorities seized $12 million in assets that the defendants have agreed to forfeit.