Online gambling 'computer genius' seriously wounded in assasination attempt

Mark Peretz (50), said to be a ‘computer genius involved in illegal online gambling business, has reportedly been shot and seriously wounded in what appears to be an organised ‘hit’ outside a mall in the Toronto area.

Peretz is apparently in a ‘life threatening condition’ after he was shot this week by a masked man using a silenced pistol whilst driving his car. The assassin subsequently made off in a vehicle.

Peretz was recently released after a nine year jail sentence for – ironically – helping to mastermind an intended hit on alleged mobster Michele Modica. Peretz drove the getaway car for Antonio Borrelli and Hells Angels member Paris Christoforou, who fired 20 bullets in a failed attempt to kill Modica, who allegedly owed $130,000 in gambling debts to Peretz.

The shooting had a tragic consequence for a young mother who became an innocent victim when she was hit and paralysed by a stray bullet.

Although not a member of either the mafia or Hell’s Angels, Peretz apparently “earned millions” for both through his mastery of online gambling technology, and was described by one police officer as a “genius in all things computers” who ran his own online betting website from servers in Costa Rica.

The motivation for the attack on Peretz is not yet clear, but there has been speculation that it may have been an attempt to eliminate him by rivals.