Indictment Says Online Gambling Ring Had Ties To Northeast Ohio

CLEVELAND — Charges have been brought against 11 people for operating an online gambling and money laundering ring, with ties to Northeast Ohio. Using a website, at least seven people were able to work as bookies, the Department of Justice said.

All 11 people named in the indictment are charged with conspiracy to operate an illegal gambline business and operating an illegal gambling business. Six of the accused are also charged with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

The indictment against the group says they used a bookmaking website called PremierPerHead.com (PPH). The website allowed customers to place bets on sporting events and was based in Costa Rica, the indictment said.

PPH let bookmakers pay a weekly fee, per active client account, and gave Northeast Ohio bookies access to the site. The bookies' clients could then use the website and place and track their bets. The website kept a dollar balance for each account.

The Northeast Ohio bookies took payment in a variety of ways, the indictment said, including: Bitcoin, Western Union wire transfers, money orders, prepaid gift cards, PayPal and cash payments.

“Identifying fraudulent schemes, including alleged gambling and money laundering enterprises, remains a priority of the Department of Justice and this U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Our partner agencies share in this commitment, which is certainly reflected in the work performed by the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Secret Service that led to these charges.”

Two of the accused are also charged with laundering proceeds from PPH. Amir Hugh Robinson, of Florida, and Anthony Pinialis, of Las Vegas, would collect money orders sent to an address in Las Vegas, the indictment said. Those money orders would then be deposited into a bank account in Pinialis' name.

Robinson would process prepaid gift cards sent by bookies as payment for PPH fees, the indictment said. Robinson would also convert payments into Bitcoin and transfer the funds to the owners of the PPH website.

The 11 people named in the indictment are: Stephen Bellipario, aka Tony, 36, of Long Island, New York; Joseph Fowles, aka Matt, 36, of Seaford, New York; Robinson, 47; Pinialis, 64; Clinton Reider, 41, of Mentor on the Lake; Thomas Reed, 48 of Kirtland Hills, James Ovens, 50 of Willoughby; Michael Tutolo, 53 of Mentor; Maurey Presser, 61 of South Euclid; Alan Bambic, 44 of Painesville; and Ralph Robertson, 57 of Chagrin Falls.

“IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to unraveling complex financial transactions and money laundering schemes where individuals attempt to conceal the true source of their money," stated Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigations’ Cincinnati Field Office. “Working collaboratively with the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Attorney’s Office, IRSCI will continue our efforts to ensure all those who participated in these schemes are brought to justice."