ICE El Dorado Task Force helps dismantle a multi-million dollar offshore gambling ring

NEW YORK - A major transnational Internet gambling operation based out of Staten Island, N.Y., and Costa Rica has been dismantled by New York City authorities with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents as part of the El Dorado Task Force. The New York Police Department (NYPD) was the lead investigating agency, which also included the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, and the New Jersey Attorney General's Office. ICE HSI agents and NYPD officers arrested 28 individuals for participating in a multi-million dollar sports-betting operation that used several locations in Staten Island, N.Y. A March 2009 tip led ICE HSI agents and NYPD detectives to Monte's Video store on Manor Road, in Staten Island, N.Y. Investigators soon learned that customers were not going to the store to rent videos. People were placing bets with the owner, Joseph "J.J." Stentella, 56, of Staten Island, N.Y. Other locations were used as wire rooms to manage cash debts and winnings and to assure bets were placed accurately. When the defendants became suspicious of a law enforcement investigation, the organization moved the operation to Costa Rica, setting up the websites "Jerry's Worldwide Sports Book" and "Momo Sports Book." Bettors then placed their bets online. These alleged bookies allegedly laundered up to a $100,000 a week in cash profits via FedEx to Florida or Arizona, which were then couriered to Costa Rica. The money was also stashed in safe deposit boxes, or used to purchase expensive classic cars, and homes, as well as a rental property in Costa Rica. In all, ICE HSI agents and NYPD Organized Crime detectives seized up to $5.7 million in assets used to facilitate or purchase, with the profits of the criminal enterprise, 14 valuable classic cars, three homes, commercial property and more than $50,000 in cash.