Chicago Video Poker King Admits Health Concerns
Video Poker
Casey Szaflarski, who has been called the “video poker king” and has been linked to the Chicago mob, told a federal judge yesterday that he should be released due to health concerns. Szaflarski told the judge that his entire “nervous system's shot” and admitted that he takes “a lot of medicine”, but the earliest he will be released is after his bond hearing, this Friday. The Chicago Sun-Times has reported that the federal prosecutor on the case, T. Markus Funk, told the judge that Szaflarski “could pose a danger to the community” or may flee before his trial date.
The investigation into Szaflarski’s video poker links has been long-running and federal investigators are now hoping to seize more than $3 million from the alleged mobster, which they believed he gained from illegal gambling funds. Szaflarski is also facing charges for failing to declare $255,000 in income between 2004-2006. Police are currently cracking down on illegal gambling in Chicago, after recently legalising video gambling. In February, we reported how mob bosses in Chicago had been caught on tape “welcoming” the new legislation, suggesting that they expect their video poker business to grow over the coming months.
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