SAN DIEGO – Two brothers who ran an international sports betting ring have been sentenced in California to federal prison.
A judge in San Diego sentenced Jan Portocarrero to 18 months on Friday. Erik Portocarrero was given 22 months. They also were fined $50,000.
The two pleaded guilty to racketeering.
Prosecutors say the brothers ran an Internet and telephone gambling enterprise called "Macho Sports" for more than a decade from a headquarters in Lima, Peru.
Authorities say the company took millions of dollars in bets from customers throughout California, strong-armed debtors and laundered proceeds.
An FBI investigation began in 2011 and led to 18 arrests in Los Angeles, San Diego and Norway, where Erik Portocarrero lived at the time. All 18 have now pleaded guilty.
Nearly $12 million in assets were seized.
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
