Art Gallery Owner Helly Nahmad Sentenced To One Year And One Day For Being A Leader Of An International, Multimillion-Dollar Illegal Sports Gambling Business
Helly Nahmad, owner of the Helly Nahmad Gallery, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for leading an international multimillion-dollar illegal sports gambling operation that processed bets up to $1 million per event, resulting in forfeiture of $6.427 million and a valuable painting.
Helly Nahmad was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for leading an illegal sports gambling business that catered to wealthy clients and processed bets often exceeding $1 million per sporting event. He was the primary financier of the operation, entitled to a substantial share of its millions in annual profits, and was ordered to forfeit $6,427,000 and the painting Carnaval à Nice by Raoul Dufy. Nahmad pleaded guilty to gambling charges in November 2013, as part of a broader case involving 28 guilty pleas and over $68 million in total forfeitures by co-defendants.
Helly Nahmad, owner of the Helly Nahmad Gallery in New York, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for leading an international, multimillion-dollar illegal sports gambling operation that primarily served billionaire and multi-millionaire clients. The enterprise operated through offshore online gambling sites, placing bets often exceeding $1 million per event and generating millions in annual profits, with Nahmad serving as the primary financier and beneficiary. In April 2014, he was ordered to forfeit $6,427,000 and the painting Carnaval à Nice by Raoul Dufy as part of his sentence. Nahmad pleaded guilty to gambling charges in November 2013, and his sentencing was part of a sweeping federal case involving 28 guilty pleas and two deferred prosecution agreements. Collectively, defendants in the case forfeited over $68 million, with co-defendants including Illya Trincher, Vadim Trincher, and others convicted of related charges such as racketeering, money laundering, and wire fraud. The investigation, led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, involved multiple agencies including the FBI, NYPD, and IRS. The case underscored the scale of high-stakes illegal gambling networks operating in plain sight within elite social circles.
Extracted insights
- $68.00M $68 million $10M–$100M
- $6.43M $6,427,000 $1M–$10M
- $6.00M $6 million $1M–$10M
- person Alexander Zaverukha
- person Anatoly Shteyngrob
- person Bryan Zuriff
- scheme_term conspiring to commit money laundering
- scheme_term conspiring to commit wire fraud
- person David Aaron
- person Dmitry Druzhinsky
- person Edwin Ting
- person gambling charges
- person Hillel Nahmad
- person illegal gambling business
- person Jesse M. Furman
- person Justin Smith
- person Kirill Rapoport
- person Nicholas Hirsch
- person Preet Bharara
- person William Barbalat
- Hillel Nahmad sentenced to one year and one day
- Hillel Nahmad led international multimillion-dollar illegal sports gambling business
- Hillel Nahmad ordered to forfeit $6,427,000
- Hillel Nahmad ordered to forfeit Carnaval à Nice, 1937 by Raoul Dufy
- Hillel Nahmad operates Helly Nahmad Gallery at Carlyle Hotel in New York
- Hillel Nahmad was primary source of financing for illegal gambling business
- Hillel Nahmad and Illya Trincher operated and led nationwide illegal gambling business in New York City and Los Angeles
- Preet Bharara is United States Attorney for Southern District of New York
- Jesse M. Furman is U.S. District Judge
- Bryan Zuriff pled guilty to gambling charges
- William Barbalat pled guilty to gambling charges
- Kirill Rapoport pled guilty to gambling charges
- Edwin Ting pled guilty to gambling charges
- Justin Smith pled guilty to gambling charges
- Dmitry Druzhinsky pled guilty to gambling charges
- David Aaron pled guilty to gambling charges
- Alexander Zaverukha pled guilty to gambling charges
- Nicholas Hirsch pled guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud
- Anatoly Shteyngrob pled guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering
- 28 defendants pled guilty in illegal gambling case
- defendants agreed to forfeit more than $68 million
Press Release Art Gallery Owner Helly Nahmad Sentenced To One Year And One Day For Being A Leader Of An International, Multimillion-Dollar Illegal Sports Gambling Business Wednesday, April 30, 2014 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that HILLEL NAHMAD, a/k/a “Helly,” was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to one year and one day in connection with his leadership role in the operation of a high-stakes illegal sports gambling business. NAHMAD was also ordered to forfeit $6,427,000 and all his right, title, and interest in the painting Carnaval à Nice, 1937 by Raoul Dufy to the United States. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “For art gallery owner Helly Nahmad, running a multimillion-dollar illegal sports gambling business came with a steep price, forfeiture of over $6 million and time behind bars – a punishment he likely never pictured.” According to the Indictment, other documents filed in Manhattan federal court, and statements made at various proceedings in this case, including today’s sentencing: NAHMAD operates the Helly Nahmad Gallery out of the Carlyle Hotel in New York, New York. NAHMAD and defendant Illya Trincher operated and led a nationwide illegal gambling business in New York City and Los Angeles that catered primarily to multi-millionaire and billionaire clients. As part of this business, the organization ran a high-stakes, illegal sportsbook that utilized several online gambling websites operating illegally in the United States. The organization booked bets that were often in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and at times a million dollars, on a single sporting event. The organization also made millions of dollars of sports bets each year. NAHMAD was the primary source of financing for the illegal gambling business, and he was entitled to a substantial share of its profits. Twenty-eight defendants in this case have pled guilty, and two have entered into deferred prosecution agreements. The defendants who have pled to date have agreed to forfeit, in total, more than $68 million. The following defendants have pled guilty, and have been sentenced or await sentencing: Bryan Zuriff pled guilty to gambling charges on July 26, 2013, and was sentenced on November 25, 2013. William Barbalat pled guilty to gambling charges on August 14, 2013, and was sentenced on December 16, 2013. Kirill Rapoport pled guilty to gambling charges on August 16, 2013, and was sentenced on December 19, 2014. Edwin Ting and Justin Smith pled guilty to gambling charges on September 4, 2013, and were sentenced on January 21, 2014, and January 6, 2014, respectively. Dmitry Druzhinsky and David Aaron pled guilty to gambling charges on October 4, 2013, and were sentenced on April 18, 2014, and February 14, 2014, respectively. Alexander Zaverukha pled guilty to gambling charges on October 10, 2013, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 1, 2014. Nicholas Hirsch pled guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud on October 16, 2013, and was sentenced on February 25, 2014. Anatoly Shteyngrob pled guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering on October 17, 2013, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2014. Yugeshwar Rajkumar pled guilty to gambling charges on October 18, 2013, and was sentenced on March 25, 2014. Stan Greenberg pled guilty to conspiring to commit racketeering on October 22, 2013, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 2, 2014. Arthur Azen pled guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering and conspiring to collect extensions of credit by extortionate means on November 5, 2013, and was sentenced on April 9, 2014. Hillel Nahmad pled guilty to gambling charges on November 12, 2013, and was sentenced on April 30, 2014. Vadim Trincher pled guilty to conspiring to commit racketeering on November 14, 2013, and was sentenced on April 30, 2014. Eugene Trincher pled guilty to gambling charges on November 14, 2013, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 9, 2014. Anatoly Golubchik pled guilty to conspiring to commit racketeering on November 15, 2013, and was sentenced on April 29, 2014. Illya Trincher pled guilty to gambling charges on November 15, 2013, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 8, 2014. Ronald Uy pled guilty to structuring financial transactions on November 25, 2013, and was sentenced on March 27, 2014. Moshe Oratz pled guilty to gambling charges on December 3, 2013, and was sentenced on April 9, 2014. Michael Sall pled guilty to interstate travel in aid of an unlawful activity (illegal gambling) and Jonathan Hirsch pled guilty to gambling charges on December 4, 2013. Sall was sentenced on April 18, 2014, and Hirsch is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9, 2014. Noah Siegel pled guilty to gambling charges on December 5, 2013, and was sentenced on April 10, 2014. Molly Bloom pled guilty to gambling charges on December 12, 2013, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 2, 2014. Alexander Katchaloff pled guilty to gambling charges on January 16, 2014, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2014. Donald McCalmont, John Jarekci, a/k/a “John Hanson,” and Abraham Mosseri pled guilty to making a fraudulent tax statement, failing to file a tax return, and causing a financial institution to participate in a lottery related matter, respectively, on January 24, 2014, and are scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2014, May 28, 2014, and May 21, 2014, respectively. William Edler and Peter Feldman entered into deferred prosecution agreements on April 11, 2014. Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harris M. Fischman, Joshua A. Naftalis, Peter J. Skinner, and Kristy J. Greenberg of the Violent and Organized Crime Unit are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wilson of the Office’s Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Unit is responsible for the forfeiture aspects of the case. Updated May 13, 2015 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 14-130
Press Release Art Gallery Owner Helly Nahmad Sentenced To One Year And One Day For Being A Leader Of An International, Multimillion-Dollar Illegal Sports Gambling Business Wednesday, April 30, 2014 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that HILLEL NAHMAD, a/k/a “Helly,” was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to one year and one day in connection with his leadership role in the operation of a high-stakes illegal sports gambling business. NAHMAD was also ordered to forfeit $6,427,000 and all his right, title, and interest in the painting Carnaval à Nice, 1937 by Raoul Dufy to the United States. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “For art gallery owner Helly Nahmad, running a multimillion-dollar illegal sports gambling business came with a steep price, forfeiture of over $6 million and time behind bars – a punishment he likely never pictured.” According to the Indictment, other documents filed in Manhattan federal court, and statements made at various proceedings in this case, including today’s sentencing: NAHMAD operates the Helly Nahmad Gallery out of the Carlyle Hotel in New York, New York. NAHMAD and defendant Illya Trincher operated and led a nationwide illegal gambling business in New York City and Los Angeles that catered primarily to multi-millionaire and billionaire clients. As part of this business, the organization ran a high-stakes, illegal sportsbook that utilized several online gambling websites operating illegally in the United States. The organization booked bets that were often in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and at times a million dollars, on a single sporting event. The organization also made millions of dollars of sports bets each year. NAHMAD was the primary source of financing for the illegal gambling business, and he was entitled to a substantial share of its profits. Twenty-eight defendants in this case have pled guilty, and two have entered into deferred prosecution agreements. The defendants who have pled to date have agreed to forfeit, in total, more than $68 million. The following defendants have pled guilty, and have been sentenced or await sentencing: Bryan Zuriff pled guilty to gambling charges on July 26, 2013, and was sentenced on November 25, 2013. William Barbalat pled guilty to gambling charges on August 14, 2013, and was sentenced on December 16, 2013. Kirill Rapoport pled guilty to gambling charges on August 16, 2013, and was sentenced on December 19, 2014. Edwin Ting and Justin Smith pled guilty to gambling charges on September 4, 2013, and were sentenced on January 21, 2014, and January 6, 2014, respectively. Dmitry Druzhinsky and David Aaron pled guilty to gambling charges on October 4, 2013, and were sentenced on April 18, 2014, and February 14, 2014, respectively. Alexander Zaverukha pled guilty to gambling charges on October 10, 2013, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 1, 2014. Nicholas Hirsch pled guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud on October 16, 2013, and was sentenced on February 25, 2014. Anatoly Shteyngrob pled guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering on October 17, 2013, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2014. Yugeshwar Rajkumar pled guilty to gambling charges on October 18, 2013, and was sentenced on March 25, 2014. Stan Greenberg pled guilty to conspiring to commit racketeering on October 22, 2013, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 2, 2014. Arthur Azen pled guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering and conspiring to collect extensions of credit by extortionate means on November 5, 2013, and was sentenced on April 9, 2014. Hillel Nahmad pled guilty to gambling charges on November 12, 2013, and was sentenced on April 30, 2014. Vadim Trincher pled guilty to conspiring to commit racketeering on November 14, 2013, and was sentenced on April 30, 2014. Eugene Trincher pled guilty to gambling charges on November 14, 2013, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 9, 2014. Anatoly Golubchik pled guilty to conspiring to commit racketeering on November 15, 2013, and was sentenced on April 29, 2014. Illya Trincher pled guilty to gambling charges on November 15, 2013, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 8, 2014. Ronald Uy pled guilty to structuring financial transactions on November 25, 2013, and was sentenced on March 27, 2014. Moshe Oratz pled guilty to gambling charges on December 3, 2013, and was sentenced on April 9, 2014. Michael Sall pled guilty to interstate travel in aid of an unlawful activity (illegal gambling) and Jonathan Hirsch pled guilty to gambling charges on December 4, 2013. Sall was sentenced on April 18, 2014, and Hirsch is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9, 2014. Noah Siegel pled guilty to gambling charges on December 5, 2013, and was sentenced on April 10, 2014. Molly Bloom pled guilty to gambling charges on December 12, 2013, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 2, 2014. Alexander Katchaloff pled guilty to gambling charges on January 16, 2014, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2014. Donald McCalmont, John Jarekci, a/k/a “John Hanson,” and Abraham Mosseri pled guilty to making a fraudulent tax statement, failing to file a tax return, and causing a financial institution to participate in a lottery related matter, respectively, on January 24, 2014, and are scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2014, May 28, 2014, and May 21, 2014, respectively. William Edler and Peter Feldman entered into deferred prosecution agreements on April 11, 2014. Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harris M. Fischman, Joshua A. Naftalis, Peter J. Skinner, and Kristy J. Greenberg of the Violent and Organized Crime Unit are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wilson of the Office’s Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Unit is responsible for the forfeiture aspects of the case. Updated May 13, 2015 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 14-130