Two men have been charged and enter guilty pleas in relation to the operation of high-stakes illegal New York City poker games with pots climbing to tens of thousands of dollars.
According to prosecutors, Kirill Rapoport pleaded guilty Friday to running illegal poker games and William Barbalat pleaded guilty Wednesday to traveling in interstate commerce in connection with the operation of illegal poker games.
The defense council says Barbalat admits involvement but has no involvement in organized crime. Rapoport's attorney hasn't released any comments.
The men were 2 or 34 people accused in April of involvement with two Russian-American organized-crime groups. The prosecution states that the groups laundered $100 million in profits from illegal gambling which included poker games in which both celebrities and pro athletes attended.
When sentencing takes place in December, Barbalat and Rapoport may face a maximum of five years in jail.
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