There have been a pair of guilty pleas in cases that the feds say are related to the recent indictment of California high-stakes poker pro Gal Yifrach (pictured).
On March 21, the federal government said that Yosef Yitzchak Beshari, 29, of North Hollywood, and Efraim Journo, 30, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in related cases.
They admitted to operating an “illegal gambling business” and “conspiring to launder money,” the federal government said in the news release.
“Beshari and Journo conducted an illegal gambling business involving video slot machines and devices and the sale of credits for online gambling, in Stanislaus County, San Joaquin County, Sacramento County and elsewhere. In addition, Beshari conspired with Schneur Zalman Getzel Rosenfeld, 33, of Los Angeles, who has been charged in a related case, to launder the proceeds of the illegal gambling business by exchanging the cash proceeds for various payments.” according to an announcement from the Department of Justice.
“In a related case,” the feds continued, “an indictment charges Los Angeles residents Gal Yifrach, 35, with operating an illegal gambling business and conspiracy to commit money laundering; Nick Shkolnik, 39, with operating an illegal gambling business; and Shalom Ifrah, 32, and Rosenfeld with conspiracy to commit money laundering.”
The government accused Yifrach of laundering “the proceeds” through various avenues, including poker chips in high-stakes card games in California.
Beshari and Journo will be sentenced in June by U.S. District Judge William Shubb.
Both men face a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conducting an illegal gambling business. Beshari faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a six-figure fine for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Beshari has also agreed to forfeit $250,000.
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