[KHTS] – A Santa Clarita man was among 17 arrested in a series of raids across the country for their part in an alleged multi-million dollar online gambling operation.
The home of Cyrus Irani was descended upon by FBI, NYPD and LAPD officers early Wednesday morning, while other raids in New York, San Diego and the Los Angeles County were taking place simultaneously.
According to Lieutenant Stephan Margolis with the Los Angeles Police Department, 11 arrest warrants and four search warrants were served in Los Angeles County.
He said that Irani was, “One of the prime players in the operation.”
Neighbors in the quiet neighborhood said that Irani was a friendly man, and before the raid they had noticed no suspicious behavior from the house he shared with his wife.
Irani was taken in handcuffs from the home.
The scheme was allegedly created to evade taxes, with the perpetrators creating an out-of-country shell company while controlling everything from within the U.S. and collecting debts through agents throughout the country.
“Because it’s a touch and click situation,” said Margolis, “it fosters gambling addictions.”
He claimed that people were betting thousands to tens of thousands of dollars in this operation.
The following are the names of Santa Clarita residents arrested for their alleged part in the gambling operation:
Cyrus Irani, 37, is alleged to be the bookmaker or the boss of the organization. He is charged with enterprise corruption, first-, second-, third- and fourth-degree money laundering, first degree promoting gambling and fourth- and fifth-degree conspiracy.
Saul Salami, 45, is alleged to be an agent. He is charged with enterprise corruption, first- and fourth-degree money laundering, first-degree promoting gambling, and fourth- and fifth-degree conspiracy.
Julio Alvarenga, 40, is alleged to have been an agent. He is charged with enterprise corruption, first-degree promoting gambling and fifth-degree conspiracy.
Andres Arriaga, 41, is alleged to have been an agent. He is charged with enterprise corruption, first- and fourth-degree money laundering, first-degree promoting gambling, fifth-degree conspiracy and fifth-degree conspiracy.
Jeffery Metelitz, 54, is alleged to have been an agent. He is charged with enterprise corruption, first- and fourth-degree money laundering, first-degree promoting gambling and fifth-degree conspiracy.
Prosecution will be out of Queens county in New York
This is an ongoing story. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
Tweet This
Facebook
Digg This
Bookmark
Stumble
RSS
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
34 Comments
god, i hope it doesn’t go through. I have seen so many areas get worse when they come in. I don’t understand why people even waste time going to them. You have better chances online where overhead costs are lower for the companies. hell, this site even gives you $25 to test with just for entering your email. … http://newsdailynow.com/2015/10/28/bingo/ Seems like a better investment to me, although you don’t get the thrill of hanging around a lot of shady characters haha
The feds are worring about this guy evading taxes while version wireless dosent have to pay taxes and the same goes to General electric no fed taxes
Then there is good old Reverend Al who owes five million in income taxes. However, I saw this article on the news, and this guy was also arrested for money laundering.
If these companies and people like Sharpton pay their taxes. This would be “great” again. Corporations got too big to pay.
Poor chinitos
Looks like I need a new bookie
The feds has nothing better to do than to screw with the small players. He drives a old Buick, I seriously doubt he had millions coming in.
Brett Brunsell I thought this was going to be you know who…
Is this the house where Draft Kings is run out of? I thought it would be bigger.
Micheal that’s the shroud over the eyes. If your making millions you don’t make it obvious. Or at least that’s what I think.
Which “quiet neighborhood” was this? The article doesn’t say. Wondering if this was near the Circle J homes; I was on the Metrolink this morning around 7 am which was slowed for some police activity at the train crossing.
Jose Gonzalez
.
Hugo Ramirez
David Cortes Pretty sure we played golf with him at Vista lol
Lmfao
Sarah Frakes
Ugh tacky Dammit
I want that Tesla in the garage.
It will probably go up for auction if they prove it was bought with illegally made money which I’m sure they will. Lol
Eddie, you got caught!?
Multi million…yep, that’s me!
Yikes!
Chris Pass
This is the track I work at
Scandalous
Yeah it was the talk of the neighborhood lol
I bet lol
Michelle, Liesa, Diana, Sylvia!!
Jack Carey Bret Avrashow lol
Hahaha! Nice house and a Tesla?? Dang!
Terry Sheckells
So the whole point is Uncle Sam wants his cut… That’s the only reason they call it corrupt.