Radio Sports Presenter Sebastian Loses $380k Gambling
December 24, 2010 9:47 amRadio personality Sebastian, whose real name is Joseph Schlosser, is currently facing professional gambling charges following a year long joint investigation by the IRS and FBI.
Until last year the 62 year-old Schlosser was a veteran morning WCCC radio personality before recently hosting an NFL pregame show on WTIC. That show, which he used to co-present with former NFL player Tebucky Jones, has subsequently ceased airing for now following the revelations about the presenter’s gambling habits.
Joseph Schlosser is purported to have told investigators that he was a life long sports bettor and had lost around $380,000 gambling between January 2008 and November 2009. It is not clear if the presenter collected any winnings over the same period.
Schlosser is just one of a dozen people now facing illegal sports betting criminal charges, which includes Wolcott town official Randy Petroniro. Also mentioned in the case files is Burlington man Paul Graziano, who is alleged to have handled the sports bets, although no charges have presently be filed against him as the investigation continues.
A search of Graziano’s house a year ago revealed $11,000 in cash, a cheque for $30,000, as well as numerous handwritten gambling slips. Despite the findings the arrest of the 13 defendants including Schlosser wasn’t made for another 11 months on November 17th.
According to IRS Special Agent Jeff Miller, after an interview with Schlosser he concluded that:
“If Schlosser was owed money, Graziano would pay him in cash, given to him in person in a plain, unmarked envelope. If Schlosser owed Graziano money, Schlosser would pay by check from his ‘Sebastian Sports’ business account.”
Schlosser and his fellow defendants are now due to appear in front of a New Britain Superior Court on January 4th.