Guilty Plea in Illegal Wagering and Money Laundering Operation

U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite announced that FRANK FRABBIELE, 79, of Abita Springs, Louisiana pleaded guilty today to a two-count Bill of Information, charging him with the transmission of wagering information and money laundering.

According to court documents, beginning not later than January 2008 and continuing until April 9, 2014,FRABBIELE operated a gambling operation in which he took bets and wagers on football, basketball, and baseball games. In the course of conducting his gambling operation, FRABBIELE used a “pay-per-head” betting website based in Costa Rica to track, record, and register bets and clients, to which FRABBIELEpaid a per-client fee. FRABBIELE’S relationship with the website caused information to be transmitted by wire from Abita Springs to Costa Rica for the purposes of assisting in placing bets on football, baseball, and basketball. On or about November 15, 2012, FRABBIELE alsocommitted money laundering by depositing $20,000 cash, representing the proceeds of the gambling operation, into a bank account.

FRABBIELE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 12 years in prison, three years of supervised release after any term of imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for January 14, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Helen G. Berrigan.