Judge to decide on evidence in World Cup illegal betting case

By JEFF GERMAN LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

11 years ago

Paul Phua, second from left, and his son Darren, third from left, walk to Lloyd George Federal Courthouse in Las Vegas with their attorneys Richard Schonfeld, left, and David Chesnoff, for their arraignment Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014. Phua is accused of being the ringleader of a multimillion-dollar World Cup betting scheme. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Paul Phua, left, walks to Lloyd George Federal Courthouse with his attorneys, Richard Schonfeld, center, and David Chesnoff, for his arraignment on Aug. 5, 2014. Phua is the alleged ringleader of a multimillion-dollar World Cup betting scheme. A reputed ranking member of an Asian crime syndicate, Cheung Chi-Tai, has been tied to the betting ring. Chesnoff denied his client has any association with Cheung. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal file)

Paul Phua, left, and his son Darren, center, walk to Lloyd George Federal Courthouse in Las Vegas with their attorney Richard Schonfeld for their arraignment, Aug. 5, 2014. The two are charged in a multimillion-dollar World Cup betting scheme. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal file)

Paul Phua, second from left, and his son Darren, third from left, walk to Lloyd George Federal Courthouse in Las Vegas with their attorneys Richard Schonfeld, left, and David Chesnoff, for their arraignment, Aug. 5, 2014. The two are charged in a multimillion-dollar World Cup betting scheme. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Paul Phua, left, walks to Lloyd George Federal Courthouse in Las Vegas with his attorneys Richard Schonfeld, center, and David Chesnoff, for his arraignment Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014. Phua is accused of being the ringleader of a multimillion-dollar World Cup betting scheme. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Paul Phua, left, and his son Darren, center, walk to Lloyd George Federal Courthouse in Las Vegas with their attorneys Richard Schonfeld, left, and David Chesnoff, not in the picture, for their arraignment Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Paul Phua, center, walks to Lloyd George Federal Courthouse in Las Vegas with his attorneys Richard Schonfeld, left, and David Chesnoff, for his arraignment Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014. Phua is accused of being the ringleader of a multimillion-dollar World Cup betting scheme. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

A weeklong hearing concluded Thursday into defense claims that FBI agents violated the constitutional rights of two defendants in a World Cup betting scheme investigation.

Lawyers for wealthy Malaysian businessman Paul Phua and his son, Darren Phua, are seeking to get evidence seized in a July 9 raid at luxury Caesars Palace villas tossed out of court.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Leen said she would issue a written decision.

David Chesnoff and Thomas Goldstein contend agents conducted a warrantless search to gather evidence prior to the raid that violated their clients’ privacy and due process rights.

They also have criticized FBI agents for withholding information from a judge in a search warrant affidavit about the ruse they used to enter one of the villas to gather evidence days earlier.

Agents cut off Internet service inside the villa on Dec. 5 and then entered posing as computer technicians for a Caesars electronics contractor looking to fix the problem.

Federal prosecutors have alleged that Phua and his group made a $13 million profit in June and July accepting wagers on the World Cup soccer tournament in Brazil.

Five defendants pleaded guilty last week and were each sentenced to five years of probation with the condition they stay out of the United States during that period. The case against another defendant was dismissed.

Contact Jeff German at jgerman@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-8135. Follow @JGermanRJ on Twitter