Second Defendant Pleads Guilty In Federal Gambling Case With Alleged Links To Russian MobWilliam Barbalat, 42, Takes Plea Deal To Avoid 10 Years In Jail |
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Another defendant in the high-profile illegal gambling case out of New York has pleaded guilty in federal court. The gambling operation was allegedly linked to the Russian mob.
According to the New York Daily News, William Barbalat, 42, admitted to hosting illegal underground poker games in his apartment, as well as helping facilitate wire transfers to players in different states. Barbalat is one of nearly three dozen individuals charged in the matter.
The move will spare Barbalat from a potential sentence of 10 years in prison. His deal reportedly will likely result in him spending six months to a year behind bars.
He will be sentenced in December.
In July, Hollywood producer Bryan Zuriff became the case’s first defendant to plead guilty. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said about the celebrity: “Bryan Zuriff spanned the coasts with his crimes, by operating his own illegal gambling enterprise in Los Angeles, and helping to operate a vast illegal gambling enterprise in New York. With his plea, he becomes the first defendant, but not the last, to be convicted in this sprawling script of criminal conduct.”
Zuriff faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and three years of supervised release. As part of his guilty plea, he agreed to forfeit $500,000.
His sentencing is scheduled for November.
Poker players accused by the government of some misconduct in the gambling operation include John Hanson, Justin Smith, Abe Mosseri, Bill Edler, Peter Feldman, Vadim Trincher (whose two sons, Illya and Eugene were also named), Eddie Ting and Arthur Azen.
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