Joseph M. Moore, Illegal Gambling Operation, Pennsylvania 2025

PHILADELPHIA – In a shocking turn of events, Joseph M. Moore, a 43-year-old former Philadelphia probation officer, was sentenced to one day in custody and one year of home detention for conducting a years-long illegal gambling operation.

Moore, who was a Philadelphia probation officer, owned and conducted the sports wagering business, known as the ‘Moore Gambling Business,’ from approximately January 2017 to February 2025. He was assisted by his co-defendant, James P. DeAngelo, a 45-year-old Philadelphia police officer.

According to court filings and admissions by the defendants, the Moore Gambling Business allowed individuals to place various types of bets on sporting events, including wagers on the outcome of individual games and wagers involving ‘block pools’ and other sports gambling pools.

The entry fee for these pools was as much as $500, which would generate thousands of dollars for the winners. Winners paid Moore approximately 10% of their winnings as a ‘tip’ or fee for participating in the pool. For ordinary bets on sporting events, bettors paid a fee to Moore that was included in the cost of the bet.

DeAngelo partnered with Moore and engaged another individual who provided access to an overseas gambling website that, for a fee, allowed a bettor to establish an account with the Moore Gambling Business and place bets on the overseas website.

Moore paid DeAngelo a percentage of the losses suffered by bettors, as much as 20%, as a fee for DeAngelo’s role in the Moore Gambling Business. DeAngelo also accepted wagers on individual sporting events from gamblers.

During the years of its operation, the Moore Gambling Business served hundreds of bettors who, in total, wagered hundreds of thousands of dollars on sporting events.

Moore pleaded guilty in October of last year to a one-count information charging him with conducting an illegal gambling business. DeAngelo is scheduled to be sentenced on April 30.

Moore’s sentence includes one day in custody, one year of home detention, three years of supervised release, $200,000 in forfeiture, and a $7,200 fine. This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen.

Related Federal Cases