Gujarat Man Pleads Guilty in US Court Over $9.36 Million Gambling Racket
· World · Indian Express, Times of India
Sunilkumar Patel, a 53-year-old Indian national of Gujarati origin living in New York, pleaded guilty in a US federal court in Missouri to charges including wire fraud, illegal gambling, and money laundering. Prosecutors stated that Patel and his co-conspirators operated six businesses in southwest Missouri—four in Springfield, one in Joplin, and one in Branson West—that masqueraded as amusement and skill-based game arcades. The establishments actually operated illegal slot machines and contests of chance that generated approximately $9,362,114 in gross proceeds between July 1, 2022, and May 13, 2025. Patel entered his plea before US Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J Epps Jr as part of a sweeping 72-count indictment that charged nine people in total. The defendant admitted to carrying out financial transactions specifically designed to launder the proceeds generated from the illegal operation.
Why it matters
The case highlights international criminal enforcement actions targeting underground gambling rings operating inside the US through deceptive storefront businesses.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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