Online gambling organisers sentenced

Two Scottsdale, Arizona men were sentenced Monday for their involvement in an Internet sports gambling conspiracy.

Oscar Barden (37) was sentenced to three years’ probation and 150 hours of community service, and  Richard Michael DiCapua (69) was handed two years’ probation and 100 hours of community service.

The men admitted to their involvement from March 2007 to August 2009 in an extensive sports wagering operation led by Daniel Meisel, the principal bookmaker who acted as the bank or house for the operation .

The illegal gambling operation used Internet-based offshore sports books located in Costa Rica for making and tracking bets on sporting events. The Costa Rican sports books did not have an interest in the outcome of the wagers, but charged a fee for managing each bettor’s account. The defendants paid out or collected cash in person from each bettor.

Meisel is a fugitive and remains at large.

Six other defendants in the same case were sentenced last (October) month: after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy in transmission of wagering information and operating an illegal gambling business. All were sentenced to three years probation and 150 hours of community service.

Another man, Christopher Finn (39) who was more involved in the business, received a four year probation term, along with eight months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service.

Todd Kaplan (38) pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony (failing to report a felony) and was sentenced earlier this month to three years’ probation.

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