{"id":177265,"date":"2021-06-22T10:14:58","date_gmt":"2021-06-22T17:14:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/another-gambling-defendant-avoids-prison-for-alleged-role-in-chicago-based-operation\/"},"modified":"2021-06-22T12:08:03","modified_gmt":"2021-06-22T19:08:03","slug":"another-gambling-defendant-avoids-prison-for-alleged-role-in-chicago-based-operation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/another-gambling-defendant-avoids-prison-for-alleged-role-in-chicago-based-operation\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Gambling Ring’s Alleged Key Player Avoids Prison"},"content":{"rendered":"

Todd Blanken, who allegedly was a key player in what was described as a \u201cmulti-million dollar\u201d Chicago-based gambling ring, has avoided spending time in prison.<\/p>\n

\"In
Casey Urlacher, mayor of Mettawa, Ill, shown here, avoided time in prison after he was pardoned by President Donald Trump for a federal gambling inquiry. Now, a co-defendant, Todd Blanken, has also avoided prison time. (Image: Rich Hein\/Chicago Sun-Times<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On Monday, US District Judge Virginia Kendall sentenced the 44-year-old former resident of Cary, Ill. to six months in a community center.<\/p>\n

He can work while staying in the center. He was also given two years of probation, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Prior to the sentence, Blanken apologized. In February, Blanken pleaded guilty to gambling conspiracy. The judge said it was \u201cadmirable\u201d he made some \u201ctough decisions\u201d and relocated to Arizona, the report adds.<\/p>\n

International Gambling Ring<\/h2>\n

Prosecutors claim Blanken was a \u201ctrusted runner\u201d for the gambling ring and recruited gamblers. His day job was working in the arbitration office of the Cook County courts, prosecutors added.<\/p>\n

Recently, Blanken was working at Costco, defense attorneys claim.<\/p>\n

In total, the ring involved over 1,000 gamblers nationwide, prosecutors said. A Costa Rican sportsbook also played a role. The wagers were on pro and amateur sports events, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n

A Dozen Suspects Charged<\/h2>\n

Blanken was one of 10 suspects charged for allegedly playing a role in the gambling operation.<\/p>\n

In January, President Trump pardoned Casey Urlacher, the brother of former Chicago Bears star Brian Urlacher, for his alleged role in the operation. He is the mayor of Mettawa, Ill.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Previously, Judge Kendall sentenced defendant Eugene DelGiudice<\/a> to three months of home detention, the Sun-Times <\/em>said. The 85-year-old patriarch of the gambling ring is reported to be ill, and as of last year, was taking care of his ailing wife.<\/p>\n

Authorities allege the gambling operation was led by Vincent \u201cUncle Mick\u201d DelGiudice. Vincent DelGiudice<\/a> is the son of Eugene DelGiudice, the Sun-Times<\/em> said. In February, Vincent DelGiudice pleaded guilty to gambling conspiracy and money laundering charges.\u00a0He faces several years in prison when he is sentenced.<\/p>\n

Multi-millions Siezed<\/h2>\n

A search of Vincent DelGiudice\u2019s house in Orland Park, Ill. led to the seizure of more than $1.06 million in cash, silver bars, and jewelry valued at $347,895. Also seized were gold coins valued at $92,623.<\/p>\n

Vincent DelGiudice allegedly paid the Costa Rica-based sportsbook $10,000 a week to use an online platform, WMAQ<\/em>, a Chicago TV station, reported. Gamblers were also allegedly recruited.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At one point, authorities claimed the operation was tied to the gambling ring formerly operated by Gregory Paloian of Elmwood Park, Ill., the Sun-Times<\/em> said.<\/p>\n

The FBI\u2019s Integrity in Sport and Gaming Initiative took part in the investigation. It addresses illegal sports gambling and threats of influence from criminal enterprises.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Todd Blanken, who allegedly was a key player in what was described as a \u201cmulti-million dollar\u201d Chicago-based gambling ring, has avoided spending time in prison. On Monday, US District Judge Virginia Kendall sentenced the 44-year-old former resident of Cary, Ill. to six months in a community center. He can work while staying in the center. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":177269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1074],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGambling Defendant Avoids Prison for Alleged Role in Chicago-Based Ring<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Todd Blanken has avoided spending time in prison. 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He allegedly was a key player in a large Chicago-based gambling ring\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/another-gambling-defendant-avoids-prison-for-alleged-role-in-chicago-based-operation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Casino.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Casino.OrgNews\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-06-22T17:14:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-06-22T19:08:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/gambling-pic.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ed Silverstein\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@casinoorgedsilv\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Casino_Org\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ed Silverstein\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/another-gambling-defendant-avoids-prison-for-alleged-role-in-chicago-based-operation\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/another-gambling-defendant-avoids-prison-for-alleged-role-in-chicago-based-operation\/\",\"name\":\"Gambling Defendant Avoids Prison for Alleged Role in Chicago-Based Ring\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/another-gambling-defendant-avoids-prison-for-alleged-role-in-chicago-based-operation\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/another-gambling-defendant-avoids-prison-for-alleged-role-in-chicago-based-operation\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/gambling-pic.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-06-22T17:14:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-06-22T19:08:03+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/b3771b02527bcbda9af984b9b1ff098e\"},\"description\":\"Todd Blanken has avoided spending time in prison. 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