SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nive Hagay, 31, a notorious figure in Los Angeles known as ‘Dino the Casino’, entered a guilty plea today for operating a statewide illegal gambling business and distributing cocaine. The revelation came from U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
According to court documents, starting in 2008 and continuing until November 2016, Hagay installed and maintained video slot machines across various small businesses stretching from Bakersfield to Sacramento. He then laundered the proceeds through Los Angeles clothing companies and high-end purchases, including a $202,000 cash transaction for a 2014 Audi R8.
On October 15, 2016, Hagay was caught selling roughly one ounce of cocaine at a smoke shop in Sacramento. The sale was captured on video, showing him discussing the drug’s quality and his ability to secure more in the future.
Hagay has agreed to forfeit assets such as a 2010 Aston Martin Rapide, a 2016 Mercedes Benz AMG GT, multiple Ducati motorcycles, cash seized from his home, illegal slot machines, and various bank accounts. These are part of proceeds from his illegal gambling operations.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice – Bureau of Gambling Control led the investigation into Hagay’s activities. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew M. Yelovich is handling the prosecution.
Hagay’s sentencing is scheduled for August 24, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the illegal gambling charge, and 20 years in prison with a $1 million fine for the cocaine distribution charge. The actual sentence will be determined by the court based on Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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