August 16, 2013

Feds Raid Poker Games In Manhattan Art Gallery


Posted April 16, 2013 5:02 PM ET; Last updated August 16, 2013 8:25 PM ET


Getty Images
Gisele Bundchen with fugitive art dealer Helly Nahmad eating lunch at Nello's Restaurant in 2003.



Kristy Leibowitz Photo
FBI, IRS and CID, are seen leaving the Helly Nahmad Gallery at 975 Madison Ave carrying apple computers and other items from the space.


Sweeping investigation: Thirty four people, including Molly Bloom, pictured, were charged in what investigators called a Russian organized crime operation that included illegal, high-stakes poker games for the rich and famous


Helly Nahmad
AP PHOTO


Photo: AP
The feds say the ring was led by legendary Russian gangster Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov, seen here in 2000.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/brooklyn/ringleader_targeted_because_studded_PB6e0MAaf05CbxgbjbpP3H

Brooklyn man in $100M star-studded poker ring takes plea deal - claims he was targeted by feds because he's Russian
New York Post
By RICH CALDER
Last Updated: 3:18 PM, August 16, 2013
Posted: 2:23 PM, August 16, 2013

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[From article]
Billionaire Manhattan hedge-funder Marc Lasry — who this week turned down a coveted ambassadorship to France after his name surfaced in a $100 million illegal-gambling-ring probe — has deep ties to the Clintons and President Obama.
The relationship was so strong that the powerful Dems hired each other’s children and considered themselves family friends.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/flushed_diplo_pick_tight_with_bill_uJALXAMUGRfLGJarNr5PWJ

Flushed diplo pick tight with Bill & Bam
By JEANE MacINTOSH
New York Post
Last Updated: 12:57 PM, April 27, 2013
Posted: 1:14 AM, April 27, 2013


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[From article]
Another observer put it: “It’s not about the money. It’s ego and rush. That’s all it can be.”
The Nahmads are descended from a prominent Jewish banking family in Aleppo, Syria.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/how_scion_wager_went_bust_G3OWgtuwkPMGSjVNtcaIOL/0

How scion’s wager went 'bust'
‘Ego’ behind billionaire art dealer’s gambling-ring arrest
NEW YORK POST
By ISABEL VINCENT, MELISSA KLEIN and JENNIFER GOULD KEIL
Last Updated: 12:49 PM, April 21, 2013
Posted: 12:47 AM, April 21, 2013



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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2311924/Billionaires-son-Hollywood-poker-madam-face-court-32-accused-running-illegal-gambling-ring-wealthy-celebrities-executives.html

Billionaire's son and Hollywood poker madam face court along with 32 others accused of running illegal gambling ring for wealthy celebrities and executives
By DAMIAN GHIGLIOTTY and MICHAEL ZENNIE
Daily Mail (UK)
PUBLISHED: 19:23 EST, 19 April 2013 | UPDATED: 21:38 EST, 19 April 2013


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http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/son_bad_bet_FJXOewtrn83xuahYLPPWWP

Son’s bad bet
Risking family’s fortune
New York Post
By BRUCE GOLDING, JENNIFER GOULD KEIL and DAN MANGAN
Last Updated: 4:58 AM, April 18, 2013
Posted: 1:16 AM, April 18, 2013


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[From article]
Federal agents are searching for Helly Nahmad - son of billionaire art dealer David Nahmad - and raided his gallery in the bottom floor of the famed Carlyle Hotel this morning.
The scion is part of one of the most influential art dealing families in the world with a reported $3 billion worth of famed pieces in their portfolio.
Agents also indicted Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov, a legendary Russian gangster and one of the world's most wanted international fugitives, as part of the sweep.
[. . .]
FBI agents arrested several people Tuesday in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and elsewhere as part of the investigation.


http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/russian_mob_ran_poker_games_for_1t9nSZfxOdfKwrsiCzmCoM

Feds raid midtown art gallery in bust of Russian mob ran poker games for celebs
By JOSH MARGOLIN
New York Post
Last Updated: 4:06 PM, April 16, 2013
Posted: 9:52 AM, April 16, 2013

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