ShareLevo Chan, the former CEO of one of Macauās biggest junket operators, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison by a Macau court after being found guilty of Triad offences, illegal gambling, fraud, and money laundering.
Chan headed the Tak Chun Group, which organises junkets for wealthy gamblers, many from mainland China. The group was found to have engaged in ābetting under the tableā activities in VIP rooms at five of their concessions in Macau.
This cost the casinos ā Galaxy Entertainment Group, MGM China, Sands China, SJM and Wynn Macau ā a combined US$25.3 million.
Chan, as CEO, was arrested last year as authorities continued to apply maximum pressure in a Chinese government-led anti-gambling crackdown.
The Court of First Instance in Macau heard evidence from Tak Chunās employees that the company had engaged in ābetting under the tableā activities in Macau VIP rooms.
āComputer evidence showed that Tak Chun had recorded the activities of the betting under the table companies at Tak Chun and that they promoted betting under the table games to their customers,ā the judge said, according to Inside Asian Gaming.
āSome of the persons from the betting under the table companies were present at the Tak Chun Group (VIP lounge), conducted betting under the table for players and recorded information on [these activities].ā
Chan was also found to have breached anti-Triad laws concerning ācriminal associationā, in effect creating and leading a criminal syndicate.
After 4 months of deliberations, this week saw the court deliver a guilty verdict against Chan on all counts.
His sentencing totalled 82-and-a-half years, detailed below:
- 10 years for Criminal association
- 24 years for Illegal gambling in a licensed area
- 42 years for Substantial fraud
- 1Ā½ years for Illegal gambling
- 5 years for Aggravated money laundering.
However, rules on concurrent sentencing saw the judge decide on a total of 14 years prison time, with four of his co-defendants receiving sentences ranging from 11 years down to 7 years. Four others were acquitted.
Chan who is said to have made US$186 million from his illegal activities, and others will also have to repay US$70.5million in compensation to casinos affected by the illegal operations.
Chanās guilty conviction follows that of the āJunket Kingā, Alvin Chau, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison in January of this year after being found guilty of 162 charges including fraud, criminal association and illegal gambling.
Chau was top of the junket tree in Macau as CEO of the SunCity Group, the biggest operator in the former Portuguese colony. His arrest, trial, and conviction sent shockwaves through the gambling Mecca.
