The FBI has unveiled a complex illegal poker rigging scheme that allegedly involved three La Cosa Nostra crime families, including the notorious Bonanno family, and utilized the participation of professional athletes. That investigation resulted in 31 federal indictments. This allowed them to run a dishonest scheme that spanned multiple poker games, scamming players out of at least $7.15 million over several years.
The collaborative scheme began in April 2019. Sophia Wei, defendents Billups and Eric “Spook” Earnest winning two improbable hands against the same player at their poker game retweeting message from special guest @sophiawei. As the investigation developed, what local authorities found was even more disturbing. The rigging wasn’t a series of unrelated strokes-of-luck, it was a carefully crafted plan to defraud innocent players.
The Role of Technology and Criminal Networks
Christopher Raia, assistant director in charge with the FBI, called the case a yearslong illegal poker rigging operation. This project was largely made possible thanks to technology developed by the company called Stroud. Raia emphasized that this operation employed “the allure of high-stakes winnings and the promise to play alongside well-known professional athletes” to attract players into the trap.
In 2023, as described in the article Competitive Consolidation Poker, multiple rigged games combined, intensifying the consolidating efforts and expanding the scheme’s reach even more. Michael Renzulli, another co-conspirator, sent this message in a group chat. For instance, he recommended they allow a poker player identified only as John Doe No. 4 to win a hand in order to keep him from leaving the game. This manipulation was just one piece of the overall scheme. It sought to continuously maintain players’ engagement level at the exact point needed to bilk them in a calculated manner.
“Using the allure of high-stakes winnings and the promise to play alongside well-known professional athletes, these defendants allegedly defrauded unwitting victims out of tens of millions of dollars and established a financial pipeline to La Cosa Nostra.” – Christopher Raia
Through this connection, and the introduction of some of the most infamous crime families to participate in such a scheme, the case quickly grew in complexity. The Bonanno crime family supported high-stakes, illegal poker games at 147 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. This decision created a solid connection between the mafia and poker.
Victims and Financial Impact
Our investigation found that victims of the fixed poker operation were cheated out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. John Doe No. 1, who had $1.8 million in losses from fixed contests. These phony competitions happened in June and July of 2023. VICTIMS Victims saw a huge financial impact — at least $7.15 million dollars. This screenshot demonstrates the sheer size and dangerousness of this illegal enterprise.
Zhen Hu, another individual implicated in the scheme, allegedly threatened and assaulted a victim identified as “John Doe No. 5” for failing to pay gambling debts in November 2022. These violent tactics showed just how badly the players in the plot wanted to keep power. They seemed intent on collecting the debts no matter the means.
Sophia Wei was key in designing the cheating mechanics at play in each game. She fought to get one more player onto the cheating squad. This way, Billups and Earnest could plan to throw games against him, without other players ever having the suspicion. This strategic manipulation showcased the organized effort behind the rigging scheme, designed to maintain its façade while continuing to exploit victims.
“But this was not luck, and it was not theatrics.” – Ricky Patel
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigations
As the legal process continues, many of the defendants are staring down felony charges after participating in this multi-national poker cheating scheme. Among those indicted is Robert “Black Robfish,” who has been implicated in several parts of the scheme. Anthony Shnayderman, 50, of Forest Hills, Queens, is charged with laundering money through anonymous shell companies and third parties. This shows how far embedded his network really was in the criminal underbelly and legal framework of businesses.
During this time, in September 2024, John Mazzola was accused of being a part of another game in Miami where such cheating tactics again were used. The continuing relationship between the mafia and pro sports is deeply troubling. There’s the risk to the integrity of sports gambling when it includes high profile athletes.
Ricky Patel, another of the case’s prosecutors, noted that it was shocking to convene an investigation that found such damning evidence.
“With the alleged involvement of three La Cosa Nostra crime families, an NBA head coach and Hall of Famer, as well as other current and former professional athletes, the investigative work that culminated with this morning’s operation are reminiscent of a Hollywood movie.” – Ricky Patel
As awareness grows about illegal gambling operations involving organized crime and high-profile individuals, authorities continue to investigate these networks. The consequences go beyond the immediate players in these fraudulent operations. They undermine the public’s confidence in gaming operations and professional sports.
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