Savannah casino boat investigation recovers $1 million in illegal gambling
Posted: December 12, 2013
Savannah-Chatham police Interim Chief Julie Tolbert displays a $244,875 check Thursday the department received as part of a joint-investigation into an illegal gambling operation. Marcus E. Howard/Savannah Morning News
A joint investigation of a Savannah River casino boat recovered more than $1 million in illegal proceeds, authorities reported Thursday.
The investigation, which involved federal and local law enforcement agencies, targeted gambling aboard the Diamond Casino Cruise. Three men were indicted by a federal grand jury and pleaded guilty to prohibition of illegal gambling businesses.
In June, Gregory Sicilia was sentenced to five years probation, six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, 40 hours of community service and a $100 special assessment.
John Sternberg, a boat operator, received three years probation, six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, 40 hours of community service, a $2,000 fine, $100 special assessment and ordered by a judge to earn a GED within two years.
Another operator, Jeffery Thompson, was sentenced to three years probation, 40 hours of community service, a $2,000 fine, $100 special assessment and ordered to earn a GED within two years.
The investigation, according to police, dates back to 2010.
On Thursday, members of the Southeast Coastal Border Enforcement Security Task Force gathered at Savannah-Chatham police headquarters to make the announcement and present Interim Chief Julie Tolbert with her department’s portion of the seized money in the form of a check for $244,875.
The department has a full-time investigator, who at times worked undercover, assigned to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, which was the lead agency.
A decision about what to do with the department’s funds has not been made, but it’s likely to be used to buy police equipment or vehicles, said Tolbert.
Following a tip from the Coast Guard, investigators found the casino boat had violated gambling laws, which require such vessels to conduct gambling at least 12 miles from shore in international waters. The Diamond Casino Cruise had allegedly operated slot machines and table games just off shore and sometimes while barely away from the dock, according to the ICE Homeland Security Investigations.
Brock Nicholson, special agent in charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and the Carolinas, said operators of the casino boat “flaunted” their enterprise.
The investigation, which involved federal and local law enforcement agencies, targeted gambling aboard the Diamond Casino Cruise. Three men were indicted by a federal grand jury and pleaded guilty to prohibition of illegal gambling businesses.
In June, Gregory Sicilia was sentenced to five years probation, six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, 40 hours of community service and a $100 special assessment.
John Sternberg, a boat operator, received three years probation, six months home confinement with electronic monitoring, 40 hours of community service, a $2,000 fine, $100 special assessment and ordered by a judge to earn a GED within two years.
Another operator, Jeffery Thompson, was sentenced to three years probation, 40 hours of community service, a $2,000 fine, $100 special assessment and ordered to earn a GED within two years.
The investigation, according to police, dates back to 2010.
On Thursday, members of the Southeast Coastal Border Enforcement Security Task Force gathered at Savannah-Chatham police headquarters to make the announcement and present Interim Chief Julie Tolbert with her department’s portion of the seized money in the form of a check for $244,875.
The department has a full-time investigator, who at times worked undercover, assigned to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, which was the lead agency.
A decision about what to do with the department’s funds has not been made, but it’s likely to be used to buy police equipment or vehicles, said Tolbert.
Following a tip from the Coast Guard, investigators found the casino boat had violated gambling laws, which require such vessels to conduct gambling at least 12 miles from shore in international waters. The Diamond Casino Cruise had allegedly operated slot machines and table games just off shore and sometimes while barely away from the dock, according to the ICE Homeland Security Investigations.
Brock Nicholson, special agent in charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and the Carolinas, said operators of the casino boat “flaunted” their enterprise.
http://savannahnow.com/latest-news/2013-12-12/p-nodehl1savannah-boat-investigation-uncovers-1-million-illegal-glambling-p
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