Illegal sports gambling has landed two Massachusetts men in hot water, with both receiving sentences for operating separate illicit betting operations. Keith Bianchini, 40, of Holden, and Anthony Seariac, 38, of Framingham, pleaded guilty to one count of operating an illegal gambling business in January 2019.
Bianchini was sentenced to two years of probation, with the first six months to be served on house arrest, and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and $56,000 in forfeiture. According to court documents, Bianchini’s bookmaking operation used an offshore website to place and track wagers on National Football League games and other sporting events.
During the time that Bianchini managed the gambling business, he oversaw various agents who recruited bettors and met face-to-face with bettors to collect cash payments associated with losing bets. Notably, Bianchini was a correctional officer with the Massachusetts Department of Correction while operating the bookmaking business.
On the other hand, Seariac was sentenced to two years of probation, to include six months of home confinement, and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and $92,000 in forfeiture. Seariac operated an illegal sports gambling business that utilized an offshore website to place and track wagers on National Football League games, National Basketball Association games, National College Athletic Association football and basketball games, and other sporting events.
Seariac managed and oversaw more than 10 agents who recruited bettors and met face-to-face with bettors to collect cash payments associated with losing bets. Furthermore, Seariac failed to pay federal or state taxes on his gambling income, adding to the severity of his crimes.
The sentences were announced by United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Colonel Kerry Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the cases, bringing these illicit operations to justice.
The crackdown on illegal sports gambling in Massachusetts serves as a warning to those involved in such activities. The consequences of operating or participating in these illicit businesses can be severe, ranging from hefty fines to probation and even imprisonment. As law enforcement continues to target these operations, it is likely that more individuals will be brought to justice for their involvement in illegal sports gambling.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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