Seven accused of fraud against gambling company BET365
Summary
Seven people, two of them from Gloucestershire, have been charged with involvement in an alleged fraud against the gambling company BET365. The charges before Cheltenham Magistrates Court last week show that the company’s offer of ‘free introductory betting money’ to new clients was at the heart of the alleged fraud. It is claimed that the free money offer was fraudulently abused by the defendants.
Details
All seven accused people, six men and a woman, were listed to appear before the magistrates last Wednesday, August 8. Four of them attended and they were committed to Gloucester Crown Court to await jury trial. Proceedings against two more of the defendants could not go ahead because of prison video link communication problems and their cases were adjourned till August 20th.
The final defendant failed to attend court and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Guisseppe Sangiovanni, 35, currently residing at Oakwood Prison, Wolverhampton, is at the heart of the case. It is alleged that on February 17, 2022, he was in possession of lists of personal details of people for use in connection with fraud.
He is also accused of making false representations to BET365 to claim free introductory client money between January 2021 and August 2023 – and to have transferred criminal monies to other bank accounts. His case was adjourned to August 20 because of live video link difficulties.
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The court said the hearing had to be delayed because the prison was ‘unable to facilitate the link.’ Stephianne Black, 31, of Renfrew Close, Beckton, London, is charged with supplying PANs (Primary Account Numbers) when she knew or suspected they were to be used in fraud. She is also charged with entering into an arrangement regarding free introductory client money from BET365 on behalf of Sangiovanni.
She was bailed to attend Gloucester Crown Court on September 17. Julian Mackie, 32, of Hazelrig Drive, Thame, Oxfordshire, is accused of fraud involving the free client money offer between January 16, 2021, and August 28, 2023. He is also charged with transferring criminal proceeds from BET365 to other accounts between January 15 and April 18, 2022.
His case was adjourned till August 20, also because of video link problems from the prison where he is in custody. “Unexpected circumstances meant that the case could not be heard,” the court stated.
“Defendant in custody and prison unable to facilitate the link.” Patrick White, 31, of Liddell Road, Oxford, is accused of making a false representation to BET365 to claim free betting money and also with transferring criminal property – cash – from the company to other people. The charges date between January 16, 2021, and August 28, 2023. He was unconditionally bailed till the Crown Court hearing next month.
Report source: Punchline Gloucester