News  Six Individuals Indicted in Connection With Running Major Illegal Gambling and Money Laundering Scheme

Boston — Six individuals and a Swansea-based company have been indicted in connection with a large-scale investigation into an illegal gambling and money laundering scheme in Southeastern Massachusetts, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Last week, a Statewide Grand Jury indicted the leaders of this alleged criminal enterprise and company Televend, Inc. on the following charges:

Clifford Wilson, age 56, of Dighton
Keeping a Place for Registering Bets (1 count)
Organizing and Promoting Gambling (1 count)                
Unlawful Operation of a Gaming Device (1 count)
Money Laundering (1 count)
Conspiracy (3 counts)

Deodato Faria, age 68, of Fall River
Keeping a Place for Registering Bets (1 count)
Organizing and Promoting Gambling (1 count)                
Unlawful Operation of a Gaming Device (1 count)
Money Laundering (1 count)
Conspiracy (3 counts)

John Camara, age 59, of Somerset
Keeping a Place for Registering Bets (1 count)
Unlawful Operation of a Gaming Device (1 count)
Conspiracy (1 count)

Antone Oliveira, age 75, of Fall River
Keeping a Place for Registering Bets (1 count)
Unlawful Operation of a Gaming Device (1 count)
Intimidation of a Witness (1 count)
Conspiracy (1 count)

Natercia Teixeira, age 44, of Fall River
Keeping a Place for Registering Bets (1 count)
Unlawful Operation of a Gaming Device (1 count)
Money Laundering (1 count)
Conspiracy (3 counts)

Mario Teixeira, age 52, of Fall River
Keeping a Place for Registering Bets (1 count)
Unlawful Operation of a Gaming Device (1 count)
Money Laundering (1 count)
Conspiracy (3 counts)

Televend Inc., in Swansea
Keeping a Place for Registering Bets (1 count)
Organizing and Promoting Gambling (1 count)                
Unlawful Operation of a Gaming Device (1 count)
Money Laundering (1 count)
Conspiracy (3 counts)

These indictments are the result of an investigation by the AG’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police.

The AG’s Office alleges that these individuals distributed illegal gambling devices to dozens of establishments throughout Southeastern Massachusetts. The machines, which operated like casino slot machines, were in direct competition with Lottery products and for customers who opted to play the games. The AG’s Office also alleges that there were various aspects of Televend’s business that were almost entirely cash based, which allegedly enabled laundering of the illegal gambling proceeds.

In late May and early June 2018, a coordinated series of raids led by the State Police dismantled the criminal enterprise and removed the machines from the host establishments. In total, the AG’s office recovered several dozen machines and more than $140,000 in cash.

This case was investigated by the AG’s Office after the Massachusetts Lottery, the Alcoholic Beverage and Control Commission, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and various law enforcement agencies received complaints about the illegal gambling scheme.

The defendants will be arraigned on the charges in Bristol Superior Court at a later date.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General John Dawley, Jr., and Division Chief Patrick Hanley, of the AG’s Gaming Division, with assistance from Financial Investigator Katherine Metoyer, Senior Financial Investigator James O’Hara, Senior Financial Investigator Krista Roche, Senior Digital Evidence Examiner Kenneth McCarthy, the AG’s Digital Evidence Lab and Paralegal Zachary Gregoric.

The case was investigated by the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Special Service Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, the State Police Technical Surveillance Unit, the State Police Division of Field Services, the Connecticut State Police, the Rhode Island State Police, the Gaming Enforcement Unit assigned to the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the State Office of Investigations, the Massachusetts Lottery, Treasurer Deborah Goldberg’s Office, the Bristol, Suffolk, Middlesex and Plymouth DA’s Offices and the Stoughton, New Bedford, Brockton, Dartmouth, Dighton, and Fall River Police Departments.