Poker Pros Sexton And Diano Busted For Illegal Gambling

Two professional poker players, Paul Sexton and Steve Diano, are now facing up to 25 years behind bars for their involvement in a multimillion dollar illegal sports betting ring.
The organization World Wide Wagers apparently accepted more than $50 million in sport wagers between April 13, 2011 and Oct. 18, 2012, with the Nevada Gaming Control Board and NYPD joint investigation also indicting offshore online gambling website Pinnacle Sports for acting as a “wire room” facilitating the placing of illegal sports wagers.
Commenting on the 18-month operation, District Attorney Richard A. Brown said:”So massive was the enterprise that only with their [NYPD and FBI] assistance could we bring these defendants to justice.”
Amongst the 25 people now facing charges for their alleged involvement in promoting gambling, money laundering and conspiracy, is WSOP regular Steve Diano (photo) and former Full Tilt Poker Red Pro Paul Sexton. Paul Sexton has $299,435 in tournament winnings with his biggest score coming in the 2005 WSOP $2k NLHE event, where he finished 5th for $147,145; while Steve Diano has $249,488 in tournament winnings with his 7 cashes at the WSOP accounting for $161,168 of that amount. However, Diano, 48, now stands accused of acting as a bookmaker for World Wide Wagers, with Sexton, 29, allegedly acting as an agent/money collector.
So far, property and over $7.6 million in cash has been seized across the US and commenting on the dangers posed by illegal gambling enterprises, District Attorney Richard A. Brown said: “Illegal gambling is not a victimless crime. Those who participate in these criminal enterprises often use threats, intimidation and even physical force to collect debts and oftentimes charge usurious interest rates on outstanding debts.”
Also indicted as part of the gambling ring is Cantor Gaming sports book director Mike Colbert. Nevertheless, Cantor Gaming spokeswoman Hannah Sloane was quick to distance their organization from Colbert, emphasizing that the case relates to him as an individual and not to their company.