Petersburg man among 28 arrested in connection with illegal gaming operation

Ontario Provincial Police say they have made 28 arrests in connection to an illegal gaming operation.

They launched Project Hobart in January 2018 due to an escalation in violence across Ontario and Quebec, which included attempted murders, arsons, extortion threats, shootings and assaults.

Police allege it was run by three known members and one prospect of the Hell's Angels outlaw motorcycle gang – Robert Barletta, Craig McIlquham, Eugenio (Gino) Reda and Raffaele Simonelli.

OPP say during the course of the investigation, a known member of the Hell's Angels – Michael Deabaitua-Schulde – was murdered in March, 2019 after he left his gym in Peel Region.

As part of Project Hobart, investigators identified five sophisticated illegal gaming websites run by the enterprise – Ultimate SB, Titan SB, PlaytoWin SB, Privada SB and Players SB – with the sportsbook bringing in over $13 million in gaming revenue from January to the beginning of July 2019.

They estimate the sportsbooks have been operating over five years, bringing in gross revenues of over $131 million.

Police also linked the illegal gaming operation to the Figliomeni crime family.

Here is the list of items police seized last week:

• Seven residences and two vacation properties valued at just over $8.1-million
• Financial accounts holding a total of more than $1.2-million
• 18 vehicles; including luxury and vintage automobiles, three Harley Davidson motorcycles, two snowmobiles and two golf carts
• More than $1.7 million in cash
• Multiple gold and silver coins and bars valued at $320,000
• Many high-end luxury watches and jewelry valued at $303,000
• A total of 21 firearms, including nine illegal handguns, six rifles, three shotguns and three other handguns
• Hells Angels motorcycle gang 'colours'
• Two conducted energy weapons
• Several ballistic vests

Philip Schroeder, 22, of Petersburg, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000. He's due in court on January 13.

Waterloo Regional Police were one of over a dozen police forces from across Ontario involved in executing search warrants last week.

The others, facing over 200 charges, are from cities such as London, Mississauga, Burlington and Oakville.