Naples’ chief prosecutor has warned that mafia outfits recruit young people “by showing them wealth and easy money.” Some bosses have even used TikTok to control their clan from within jail https://t.co/LDjtAb368t ...

Mobsters in Italy are exploiting social media to normalise their image, mythologise their culture and even to launder money, a study of 6,200 TikTok posts found https://t.co/dPT4uBwsLQ ...

In Italy’s mafia underworld, the traditional professions of extortioner, hitman and drug-runner are being supplanted by a less risky occupation: social-media influencer https://t.co/Tv9AKEDH4h ...

The US is expected to designate Brazil’s two largest drug gangs as terrorist organizations, a move that is likely to amplify the debate over the best way to counter the growing threat of organized crime. https://t.co/amoa2eSwVh ...

The alleged poker fraud stretched from Vegas to Miami to the Hamptons and New York, where members of the Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino and Genovese crime families struck an unusual deal to share in the profits, prosecutors said. https://t.co/vC1MAE8awD ...

Legal & Compliance - Two major fraud cases are announced, one involving sports betting and the other involving illegal gambling [1] - The indictments contain only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty [4] Sports Betting & NBA - A sports betting corruption scheme exploited confidential information about National Basketball Association athletes and teams [2] - The scheme is described as one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States [1] Illegal Gambling & Poker - A nationwide scheme to rig illegal poker games involved 31 defendants [2] - Millions of dollars were stolen from victims in underground poker games that were secretly fixed using high-tech cheating technology [2] - The games in the New York area were backed by the Banano, Gambino, and Genovves crime families of Lazinostra [3] Individuals Involved - Three overlapping defendants are charged in both cases: Damon Jones, Eric Ernest, and Shane Hennan [3] - Former professional athletes are among the defendants involved in the illegal poker games [2]

NBA Impact - The NBA faces a catastrophic situation following the indictment, potentially overshadowing positive developments like a player's performance [18] - The league's involvement with sports betting companies is under scrutiny, with potential consequences arising from this association [19][20] - Insider information on prop bets undermines the fairness of the sport, which is devastating to fans [27] - The controversy could damage the NBA's reputation, especially during what has been a successful period under Adam Silver's leadership [28][29] Investigation Details - The investigations involve high-profile NBA figures like Terry Rozier and Chanty Billups [2][3] - Illegal poker games used advanced technology, including card shufflers, special glasses, and an X-ray table, to cheat unsuspecting players out of millions of dollars [4][5][6] - Organized crime was allegedly involved in collecting debts from victims who wouldn't pay up [6] - Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the NYPD and FBI, collaborated on the investigations, spanning across the country [8][9][10] Legal and Ethical Concerns - The NBA is fully cooperating with the investigation, and the commissioner is expected to address the matter [7][8] - The case highlights the risks associated with legalizing sports betting, including potential gambling addiction among players [20][21] - There are concerns about the effectiveness of current mitigation efforts by sports betting companies in preventing fraud [22][23] - The involvement of organized crime makes the investigation and prosecution more difficult [13][14] - Terry Rozier allegedly bet over $200,000 based on inside information about his injury [11]

Thousands of federal agents once tasked with investigating drug smuggling, sexual exploitation and organized crime have been redirected to immigration enforcement. 🔗 https://t.co/9R83O4hWQ9 https://t.co/m6B5boQRJq ...

As Brazil readies for COP30 in Belém, it’s boosting security against child exploitation and organized crime in the Amazon. https://t.co/N0MnM3ngFg ...

Industry Overview - Brazil's Federal Police initiated extensive operations targeting organized crime within the country's fuel supply chain [1]