BREAKING: Two men from Glastonbury, Connecticut, have been charged in a shocking scheme that allegedly defrauded FanDuel and other online gambling sites of approximately $3 million. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced the charges following a federal grand jury indictment returned on July 25, 2023.
Amitoj Kapoor, 29, and Siddharth Lillaney, also 29, face serious allegations including 23 counts of wire fraud, 10 counts of money laundering, and multiple counts of identity theft. They were arrested on July 27, 2023, and are currently released on $300,000 bonds, with potential prison sentences ranging from 2 to 20 years for each count.
According to the indictment, since 2021, Kapoor and Lillaney conspired to exploit online gambling promotions by opening accounts using the personal information of around 3,000 identity theft victims sourced from the dark web and messaging platform Telegram. They allegedly took advantage of promotional bonuses and credits offered to new users, resulting in significant financial gain.
The investigation revealed that the pair utilized various websites like BeenVerified.com and TruthFinder.com to gather additional background information on their victims, allowing them to bypass verification processes when signing up for gambling accounts. The indictment outlines how they transferred winnings from bonus bets to virtual stored value cards, which were then moved to bank accounts they controlled.
U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan commented, “As alleged, these two men used thousands of stolen identities to open online gambling accounts and exploit new user incentives, which for several years allowed them to gamble with stolen money. Their winning streak is now over.” He praised the collaborative efforts of the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection for their thorough investigative work.
Thomas Demeo, special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Boston Field Office, emphasized the severe consequences of such identity theft, stating, “Individuals who commit identity theft of this magnitude deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, under the leadership of commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli, highlighted the expansive scope of the identity theft, indicating thousands of potential victims across the nation. “We are dedicated to protecting the public by preventing and rooting out fraud,” Cafferelli added.
As the investigation progresses, officials urge anyone who suspects they may be a victim of identity theft to report it at IdentityTheft.Gov. The case underscores the critical importance of consumer protection in the gambling industry, especially in a regulated marketplace.
Furthermore, James Gessner Jr., Mohegan Tribal chairman, expressed the commitment to ensuring a safe gaming environment, stating, “Fraud, identity theft, and the misuse of personal information have no place in a regulated marketplace.”
This developing situation highlights the ongoing battle against fraud in online gambling and the critical role of law enforcement in safeguarding consumers. As authorities continue to unravel the details of this case, more updates are expected in the coming days. Stay tuned for the latest developments.
