Orel Gohar, Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Money Laundering
Orel Gohar, 30, formerly of San Francisco, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to two and a half years in prison for conducting an illegal US DOJgambling business, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and failure to appear, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Gohar participated in
operating an organization that installed and maintained illegal video slot
machines at businesses open to the public across Northern California. Gohar
also participated in two different conspiracies to launder the proceeds of the
lucrative gambling business through co-defendants’ other businesses. In total,
Gohar participated in laundering at least $650,000.
Court documents also detail Gohar’s escape from the United
States by charter jet through Mexico, France, and Israel. Gohar was first
arrested on Dec. 8, 2017, in connection with his initial charges and granted
pretrial release. On Jan. 8, 2018, he failed to appear in federal court for a
hearing, and he remained a fugitive for nearly two years until his arrest in
Israel in December 2019.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice – Bureau of
Gambling Control. Assistance was provided by the Department of Justice’s Office
of International Affairs and Israeli authorities. Assistant U.S. Attorneys
Miriam R. Hinman and Mira Chernick prosecuted the case.
Gohar is the last of eight defendants to be sentenced in
connection with the illegal gambling and money laundering schemes. May Levy was
sentenced on Aug. 10, 2018, to probation and a $2,000 fine; Atir Dadon was
sentenced on June 14, 2019, to one year and 10 months in prison and a $10,000
fine; Bar Shani was sentenced on July 12, 2019, to one year and eight months in
prison and a $10,000 fine; Adam Atari was sentenced on Sept. 6, 2019, to two
years and seven months in prison; Yaniv Gohar was sentenced on Dec. 20, 2019,
to three years and nine months in prison; Raz Razla was sentenced on Oct. 6,
2020, to probation and a $5,500 fine; and Eran Buhbut was sentenced on Jan. 12,
2021, to probation and a $4,000 fine.
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