Massachusetts Man Arrested 13 Years After Illegal Gambling Indictment

Article by : Erik Gibbs Aug 30, 2023

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A man living in Massachusetts has been apprehended an entire decade after being charged with masterminding a sprawling illegal gambling operation worth a staggering $22 million. He was accused of operating out of the idyllic Caribbean island of Antigua over 13 years ago.

The United States Attorney’s office announced the arrest of Richard Sullivan. The accused is a 73-year-old individual who was taken into custody by US police on Sunday, August 20, at JFK Airport in New York. He was reportedly on an inbound flight from Antigua.

Sullivan is accused of eluding prosecution for thirteen years due to his alleged participation in a far-reaching illegal gambling enterprise throughout the US.

The tale dates to the early 2010s when the suspect, whose identity had long faded from the public eye, first found himself in the crosshairs of law enforcement agencies. Operating under the radar, he orchestrated an extensive illegal gambling network.

His operation included bookmaking activities, underground casinos, and offshore betting websites. The operation spanned international boundaries, involving countless participants and enormous sums of money.

Sullivan is one of many names that have reached the authorities. His associates, Todd Lyons, Robert Eremian and Daniel Eremian, operated Sports Offshore, an online sports betting operation legal in Antigua.

At the time, investigators were on his trail, diligently compiling evidence and piecing together the complex web of criminal activities. However, despite their relentless pursuit, the suspect managed to elude capture, disappearing into the shadows as the investigation reached a fever pitch.

Sullivan and his associates amassed over $22 million from their illicit gambling enterprise. Additionally, they face allegations of laundering over $10 million that were embezzled and thus received via checks and transfers.

Two of Sullivan’s collaborators, Lyons and Eremian, were convicted in 2011. Both received lengthy prison sentences and suffered multimillion-dollar financial losses as a consequence. Sullivan remained a primary target until now.

The suspect’s capture heralds the beginning of a legal odyssey, which legal scholars, law enforcement agencies, and the general public will closely watch. Over the years, the prosecution has amassed much evidence linking the accused to the sprawling illegal gambling ring.

According to authorities, they currently hold critical evidence, including witnesses, financial records, digital traces, and surveillance data, which have all been carefully assembled to build a watertight case.