Illegal bookmaker’s case full of Las Vegas ties

Technology has advanced greatly in recent years. Pay phones and land lines have long since been replaced by sophisticated cells, and the Internet is home to endless gambling-themed websites. But at some point, cash is still king in a multibillion-dollar business that spurns the limelight and seeks to avoid those irritating IRS forms at all costs.

It appears it was that way with “Fat Dave” Stroj’s alleged illegal bookmaking and gambling operation, which authorities allege was based in San Diego, but not surprisingly maintained substantial ties to Las Vegas. The multijurisdictional investigation was led by the FBI, which reports tallying multimillion-dollar profits by Stroj’s operation in a matter of a few weeks.

In all, 25 people were charged in the indictment with crimes ranging from illegal gambling and wire fraud to money laundering and transportation for the purposes of prostitution. (Stroj allegedly attempted to provide a “full service” operation for his gambling parties, which took place in San Diego county mansions and featured chefs and hookers. The prostitutes were transported from Tijuana, Mexico, to San Diego and were then taken to Las Vegas, authorities allege.)

The estimated take? More than $10 million, which authorities are calling the biggest gambling bust in the area in recent memory. More than $600,000 in cash was seized. The money was laundered through bank accounts, card clubs, Strip casinos, shell companies and even a Las Vegas bail bonds business, it’s alleged.

For his part, Stroj has ties to organized crime in Philadelphia and a previous gambling-related conviction. He is no stranger to high-end hold ’em tournaments, including the World Series of Poker, where he won a $10,000 World Championship event in 2012. It stands to reason that some of his bookmaking and gambling customers would be roped from the professional poker herd.

It’s alleged Stroj also had agents in Las Vegas, according to the indictment. Joshua Mellor, an assistant U.S. attorney in San Diego, confirmed the multiple Las Vegas links in a recent interview.

“A lot of these guys have connections in Las Vegas,” Mellor says.

Matt Greenwood tops the list. According to authorities, he provided Stroj’s partial financial backing. Greenwood, Mellor said, was arrested in Las Vegas.

Other Las Vegas defendants named include Christopher Parsons and Jeffrey Mohr, who are accused of conspiracy to money launder. Kyle Allen also was named as a fugitive in the indictment.

Marker accounts at the Bellagio and Wynn Las Vegas were used by the operation, which aided in the pay-and-take process for customers. The Las Vegas guys accompanied Stroj when he came to town when he made, “several of the money pickups and the collection of gambling debt payments made in person in Las Vegas,” the prosecutor said.

As ever, there was another purpose for the Vegas mini-vacations. Law enforcement surveillance captured the boys having a good time.

“They would go every other weekend or so and would spend large sums of money at the casinos in Las Vegas,” Mellor says.

As for the potential role any Strip casino might have played in consciously facilitating the movement of the proceeds and debts, the prosecutor adds, “We have no knowledge at this point they were involved or had knowledge this was going on.”

California card clubs entangled in the operation won’t be able to say the same. Stroj is alleged to have had insider assistance at Palomar Club and Seven Mile Casino and Village Card Club, according to the indictment.

In Las Vegas, he looked like just another wise guy with money to burn.

— John L. Smith’s column is published Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. He can be reached at 702-383-0295 or jsmith@reviewjournal.com. On Twitter: @jlnevadasmith