SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nive Hagay, 31, of Los Angeles, known on the streets as ‘Dino the Casino,’ is staring down a 12-count federal indictment tied to a sprawling illegal gambling empire, money laundering operation, and cocaine distribution ring that stretched from Bakersfield to Sacramento.
The indictment, returned Thursday by a federal grand jury, charges Hagay with running an illegal gambling business from July 2011 to November 2016, raking in an estimated $1.9 million in cash annually by placing illicit video slot machines in small businesses across California. The machines operated in plain sight but in direct violation of state law, turning local shops into unlicensed casinos under Hagay’s control.
Hagay didn’t just pocket the cash—he laundered it. According to court documents, he funneled millions through shell clothing companies in Los Angeles and made high-dollar purchases with dirty money, including a $202,000 all-cash buy of a 2014 Audi R8. The flashy spending left a paper trail that federal investigators followed straight to his door.
In addition to the gambling and laundering charges, Hagay is accused of distributing a substance that tested positive for cocaine. The charge ties him directly to the drug trade, escalating the case from financial crime to a full-blown organized criminal enterprise.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice – Bureau of Gambling Control. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew M. Yelovich is prosecuting. Authorities say the case reveals the deep entanglement of underground gambling, drug distribution, and financial fraud in Southern California’s criminal underworld.
If convicted, Hagay faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the gambling charge; 10 years and a $250,000 fine—or twice the value of the property involved—for one money laundering count; 20 years and a $500,000 fine—or double the transaction value—for the remaining laundering charges; and 20 years in prison with a $1 million fine for cocaine distribution. The charges remain allegations. Hagay is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Related Federal Cases
- Antonio Romero Jr. Led Fentanyl, Cocaine Trafficking Ring · Texas
- Owen Hanson Pleads Guilty to Leading ODOG Drug and Gambling Ring · New York
- Michael Dean Hubbard, Domminick Sentell Robbins Sentenced in Cocaine Ring · Texas
- Richard Byrd Pleads Guilty in $Million Baltimore Drug Ring · Texas
- Fidel Moreno-Dominguez, Walter Lagos Indicted in SFV Drug, Gun Ring · California
Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Organized CrimeOrganized CrimeOrganized CrimeOrganized Crime