A Panamanian national has pleaded guilty to laundering $8m for a global i-gaming ring in the largest gambling case in Albany County, US, history.
Michele Lasso, 30, who holds a masters degree in financial markets, controlled banks accounts, credit cards and wire transfers for a large sports betting ring run by Philip Gurian, 52.
Lasso pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments at federal court in Albany and faces deportation, up to 18 months in prison and must forfeit her interest in the $8m laundered.
Wiretaps caught Lasso and Gurian communicating via Skype as investigators took down the sprawling operation.
She would transfer gambling proceeds to Panama, Andorra and the Cayman Islands using two sham entities known as Nigel Holdings Inc. and Nigel Holdings S.A.
Gurian, who pleaded guilty to money laundering in October, operated between 40 and 50 offshore websites. Bettors received passwords and login codes for websites that took a 10 per cent fee.
Lasso and Gurian were among almost three dozen arrested following a long-running investigation that culminated in widespread police actions.
