FBI Busts Underground Poker Empire in Major Raid

The FBI conducted a large-scale operation against illegal gambling in April 2013, arresting several notable poker professionals. The operation was led by Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

The operation was conducted in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Philadelphia. The charges include money laundering, organizing underground poker games, and illegal sports betting.

The list of defendants includes Vadim and Ilya Trincher, Alexander Kachalov, Anatoly Steingrob, Anatoly Golubchik, Abe Mosseri, Bill Adler, Justin "BoostedJ" Smith, Peter Feldman, and John Hanson. The FBI seized computers and other equipment from Helly Nahmad's gallery in New York. Molly Bloom was mentioned in the indictment for organizing high-stakes poker games in Hollywood.