ABC7 Financial Crimes Expert Kathy Enstrom tells the ABC7 I-Team this case has all the hallmarks of a modern day mob-tied bookmaking operation.
"This organization does feel like that old school mob mentality," Enstrom said.
The former special agent in charge of IRS criminal investigations in Chicago, Enstrom is now Chief Operating Officer and Director of Investigations for the Moore Tax Law Group.
"It has all of the indicators of an organization that has leadership and then underlings and kind of a good structure," Enstrom said.
Enstrom added this is a legacy mafia-esque case with a modern day digital flair.
"They did a lot of online issues, with websites set up and electronic wires and payments and using the transfers of Zelle and a Venmo, and those types of situations," she said. "But they also had people dropping cash at businesses and in parking lots."
Old school case in point, many of the 22 people in the federal indictment unsealed this week sport the kind of colorful names you might hear in the Godfather or Goodfellas. "Jimmy the Greek," "Dean Gem," "Chuckie Hoffa," "Rami Straight Flush," "Paulie Scarf," "Pete Goodys" and many more ran an illegal gambling operation, laundered the proceeds, and threatened people who couldn't pay their debts, according to court records.
"It's an illegal gambling ring that's also involved in money laundering and loan sharking," said Zach Jensen, The Mob Museum Content Development Manager. "You know, this is organized crime, regardless of whether it's the traditional mob or not."
The accused leaders of the gambling organization, James Gerodemos and Dean Gialamas, shifted money between restaurants Gino's Steak House in Merrillville, Indiana and Paragon restaurant in Hobart, Indiana, according to the indictment. Those businesses were raided by federal authorities this week.
"Our goal is to completely dismantle this group," said Timothy J. O'Malley, FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge.
Threats and intimidation tactics seen here included a member of the betting ring traveling to Texas with a pizza and flowers, threatening to go after a victim's child at Valparaiso University if they didn't pay, federal authorities said.
"They're lending out money to these gamblers, and then they're using extortion methods to get that money back. You know, that's mob," Jensen said.
The 22 people named in this indictment were arrested just Wednesday. The Northern Indiana U.S. attorney underscoring all are presumed innocent unless convicted in a court of law.