Officers raided a Santa Clarita man’s home Wednesday in an investigation into an illegal internet sports-betting ring that netted 14 arrests, naming the Southern California man as the alleged boss of the organization, officials said.
Cyrus Irani, 37, the accused mastermind of the ring that allegedly booked more than $32 million in bets annually, was taken into custody at his home, the FBI reported.
The arrest stemmed from a New York grand jury indictment of 17 people allegedly involved in the elaborate internet gambling ring that handled bets on everything from basketball to baseball to boxing and more.
Eleven of the 17 were from Southern California, including a father-son duo from Downey who acted as the "enforcers" to collect unpaid debt.
The Los Angeles Police Department gathered box after box of evidence from Irani’s home, including comic book collections and "fine watches."
"The evidence overwhelmingly was objects of value," Lt. Stephan Margolis of the LAPD said.
Prosecutors said the 37-year-old ran the operation from his home in Santa Clarita. Irani lost just about everything in the bust Wednesday, including an expensive Tesla car and a "suped-up" suburban believed to have been used for on-the-road, secret meetings, according to officials.
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"It appears because of the way the seats are set up that it was for meetings," Margolis said.
The FBI said the ring was "highly sophisticated" and used "offshore-based gambling websites."
Neighbors watching the massive force of FBI, LAPD and NYPD come into their neighborhood said they were shocked.
"It’s surprising," Howard Anderson, a neighbor, said.
The LAPD said the ring preyed on those who were vulnerable.
"Because it is so easy to do with technologically available 24/7, it’s a click of your finger and you’re in debt," Margolis said.
Two SoCal suspects remain at large: Andres Arriaga of Valencia, 41, alleged to have been an agent; and Richard Vanderwyk of Seal Beach, 41, alleged to have been a money collector.
Full list of SoCal residents arrested Wednesday:
- Clark W. Bruner of Downey, 56. He is alleged to have been Irani's second-in-command. Bruner allegedly administrated the accounts, managed various "agents," and collected winnings from the agents.
- Bruner's sons, Chris Bruner of Downey, 31, and Clark "CJ" Bruner of Menifee in Riverside County, 33, both of whom are alleged to have been agents.
- Saul Salami of Santa Clarita, 45, alleged to have been an agent.
- Cassondra Smith-Luttman of San Diego, 32, alleged to have been an agent.
- Julio Alvarenga of Santa Clarita, 40, alleged to have been an agent.
- Jeffrey Metelitz of Valencia, 54, alleged to have been an agent.
- Hyun "David" Chang of Long Beach, 37, alleged to have been a money collector.
- Thomas Cortese of Santa Barbara, 49.
