Beverly Hills Federal Illegal Gambling Lawyer

Facing Federal Gambling Charges in Beverly Hills? Do Not Speak to Investigators Before Calling Us

If you are under investigation or have been charged with federal illegal gambling in Beverly Hills, do not speak to investigators without an attorney present. Federal gambling prosecutions are built by the FBI, IRS, and Department of Justice over months and sometimes years before a single arrest is made. By the time agents contact you, they have typically already gathered financial records, executed subpoenas, monitored communications, and coordinated across multiple agencies. You are not dealing with an ordinary criminal case and you cannot afford to treat it like one. At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, our criminal defense attorney has spent over 20 years representing clients facing serious federal charges in Beverly Hills and throughout Los Angeles, intervening early, challenging the government’s evidence, and fighting for outcomes that protect our clients’ freedom and financial future. Contact our office immediately for a free, confidential consultation before you say anything to federal investigators.

What Constitutes Federal Illegal Gambling?

Federal authorities become involved in gambling cases when the operation is large in scale, crosses state lines, or involves online activity. Prosecutors rely on several federal statutes:

Illegal Gambling Business Act (IGBA) — 18 U.S.C. § 1955

The most commonly charged federal gambling statute. A gambling business can be prosecuted under the IGBA if it involves five or more people, operates for more than 30 consecutive days, or generates $2,000 or more in revenue in a single day. Prosecutors must prove all threshold elements, and our firm challenges these calculations directly.

The Wire Act — 18 U.S.C. § 1084

Makes it illegal to use wire communications including phones, servers, and the internet to transmit bets or gambling-related information across state or national borders. Federal prosecutors continue to use it aggressively in online sports betting and wagering cases.

Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA)

Targets the financial side of online gambling by prohibiting banks and payment processors from handling transactions connected to unlawful internet gambling. Even when the underlying gambling is not clearly criminalized, processing payments can trigger federal charges.

Additional Charges Frequently Added

Federal gambling prosecutions rarely stop at one statute. Because the government frames these cases as part of larger criminal enterprises, defendants commonly also face conspiracy, RICO racketeering, money laundering, and wire or mail fraud charges. Each additional count increases sentencing exposure significantly.

Penalties for Federal Illegal Gambling Convictions

Federal gambling convictions carry consequences that go well beyond fines or short jail terms:

IGBA conviction: up to 5 years in federal prison per count
RICO or money laundering charges added: sentences can reach 20 years or more
Financial penalties calculated on the scale of the operation, potentially reaching hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars
Mandatory asset forfeiture of all proceeds and property connected to the alleged gambling activity, including bank accounts, vehicles, computers, and real estate
Federal conviction carries no parole — defendants serve at least 85 percent of their sentence
Immigration consequences for non-citizens including mandatory deportation
Permanent federal felony record affecting employment, licensing, and financial standing

How Our Firm Defends Federal Gambling Cases in Beverly Hills

Every federal gambling case is different. Our firm builds a defense strategy tailored to the specific facts of each case, the statutes charged, and the government’s evidence. Common defense approaches include:

Challenging Searches and Seizures

Federal gambling investigations rely heavily on digital evidence, financial records, and surveillance. If evidence was obtained through an unconstitutional search, a defective warrant, or an overly broad digital seizure, our firm files targeted suppression motions. Removing key evidence from a federal gambling prosecution often fundamentally alters the government’s case.

Disputing IGBA Threshold Elements

To convict under the IGBA, prosecutors must prove the operation met the five-person, 30-day, or $2,000 daily revenue thresholds. Our firm scrutinizes the government’s evidence for each element and challenges threshold calculations directly, as failure to prove any one element can defeat federal jurisdiction entirely.

Challenging Intent and Knowledge

Federal gambling charges require proof that the defendant knowingly participated in an illegal gambling business. Evidence that a defendant acted in good faith reliance on vendors, platforms, or advisors who presented the activity as lawful directly undermines the intent element the prosecution must prove.

Attacking Conspiracy and RICO Allegations

Conspiracy and RICO charges are frequently added to maximize sentencing exposure. Our firm challenges these allegations by demonstrating that a client’s role was limited, peripheral, or unconnected to the alleged enterprise as a whole, often achieving dismissal or significant reduction of these enhancement charges.

Protecting Assets from Forfeiture

Asset forfeiture can devastate clients financially before a conviction occurs. Our firm challenges unjustified seizures of bank accounts, property, and business income immediately and fights to have assets released so clients can maintain financial stability while their defense is built.

Why Contacting an Attorney Immediately Is Critical

Federal gambling investigations are methodical and long-running. By the time agents contact you, the government has typically already gathered substantial evidence, coordinated with multiple agencies, and may have already frozen accounts or served subpoenas. Speaking to federal investigators without an attorney present is one of the most damaging things a person can do — even statements that seem innocuous can be used to strengthen the government’s case.

Early legal intervention allows our firm to protect you from making statements that assist the prosecution, challenge improper searches or surveillance before evidence becomes entrenched in the record, address subpoenas before damaging information is turned over, and in some cases prevent charges from being filed at all through direct engagement with prosecutors at the pre-indictment stage.

Contact a Beverly Hills Federal Gambling Defense Attorney Today

When you are facing federal gambling charges, your immediate first step should be to retain an experienced defense lawyer. Federal prosecutors have extensive resources, and once charges are filed, they will work tirelessly to secure a conviction. Early intervention by an experienced Beverly Hills federal defense attorney can make a decisive difference in the outcome of your case.

At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, we are dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals accused of serious state and federal crimes. For more than 20 years, Attorney Arash Hashemi has represented clients in Beverly Hills, West Los Angeles, Culver City, Santa Monica and throughout Southern California. We provide aggressive, confidential, and effective legal defense at every stage of the federal process — from investigation to trial and appeal. Call us today for an immediate consultation.

The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi
11845 W Olympic Blvd #520
Los Angeles, CA 90064
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