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Sheriff Seizes Racehorses In Gambling Sting

Maricopa County Sheriff Seizes Race Horses

April 29, 2007

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Department announced last Tuesday that several dozen search and arrest warrants were served simultaneously in Phoenix, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The warrants were issued against four separate gambling rings that were loosely affiliated with each other. As the case continues to develop, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has now seized 19 racehorses, and moves to confiscate millions of dollars worth of other personal property.

Warrants issued last week resulted in the arrest of 31 individuals connected to four gambling rings that operated in various cities, but that were all headquartered in the Phoenix area. The gambling rings used toll free betting lines and illegal sports betting web sites based in Costa Rica to accept wagers on sports events.

Although much of the actual betting took place online and by telephone, the collection and payment aspect of the business was often done in person, usually at local restaurants and sports bars. Early reported indicated that interest rates as high as 51% were charged to those who were unable to pay their gambling debts, and that the gambling rings used strong arm collection tactics that forced many gamblers to sell their homes or liquidate their retirement accounts.

Sheriff Arpaio had promised that he would work with the State Attorney General's office to seize property related to the accused, and that promise has began to be fulfilled as Sheriff's Deputies issued a lien on 19 racehorses in Arizona. The racehorses are part of a number of property seizures that are projected to be valued at $145 Million. This is in addition to dozens of luxury cars and $8.5 Million in cash that were seized during the initial sweep.

The horses that have been seized belong to 77 year old Ralph DiPiero of Scottsdale, Arizona. Authorities have charged DiPiero with being one of the four ring leaders of the illegal gambling rings. He is one of the 31 individuals who were arrested during the initial raid last Tuesday. The Maricopa County Sheriff's office also stated that DiPiero is connected to known organized crime figures from East Coast Mafia families.

In addition to the racehorses and other private property owned by those accused of being part of the gambling rings, many are beginning to wonder if the businesses where these individuals collected and paid money could also be seized. Skip and Jan's Sports Bar (Tempe, AZ), Jilly's American Grill (Chandler, AZ) and Venice Ristorante Italiano (Ahwatukee, AZ) are specific points of interest the Sheriff's Office mentioned in a press conference.

Owners of the businesses and attorneys representing their interests have denied knowing anything about illicit gambling and claim that they have never heard of any such gambling taking place at their property. However, undercover agents who were involved in the gambling sting state that the staff had a vantage point over what was happening and claim that the illegal activity took place in full view, although they could not say if the owners or managers themselves were witness to the crimes.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Department has stated that more seizures are forthcoming and that more arrests are likely to occur as the case unfolds. No gamblers have yet been charged with illegal betting, although the Sheriff's Department has obtained complete records on who the customers of the gambling rings are.

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Costa Rica Tied To Illegal Gambling Raids