CLEVELAND ‒ Two men convicted of federal charges related to long-closed storefront gambling operations in Stark County got lengthy prison terms Monday.
U.S. District Court Judge Donald C. Nugent sentenced Christos Karasarides Jr. and Ronald DiPietro.
Cash, homes & prison terms: Lots still at stake over illegal gambling raids in Stark
Their sentences represent the culmination of a long legal battle that started with raids of Stark County 777 gaming parlors in 2018 and included more than 1 million documents from government prosecutors alone.
Karasarides, who lives in Hills and Dales, was convicted of tax evasion, gambling, money laundering, conspiracy and obstruction.
He was sentenced Monday to nearly 22 years in federal prison and ordered to repay the IRS nearly $5.5 million. He also must forfeit several properties.
DiPietro, a certified public accountant who lives in Green, was convicted of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, tax evasion and preparing false income tax returns for Karasarides.
DiPietro was sentenced to more than 9 years prison and ordered to repay $4.76 million.
Guilty: Stark County-area men convicted of running illegal gambling operations following 2018 raids
The charges relate to three illegal gambling businesses that operated between 2009 and 2018 in Plain Township: Skilled Shamrock at 4225 Hills and Dales Road NW, Redemption Skill Games 777 at 2824-2826 Whipple Ave. NW, Plaza 777 at 2128 Columbus Road NE.
At Skilled Shamrock alone, which primarily operated slot machines, patrons gambled more than $34 million between 2012 and 2017, with the owners retaining more than $7 million, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
A June 23 federal indictment stated Karasarides owed $3.1 million in taxes on income he earned gambling and from other businesses he ran.
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