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A court in Berat, Albania, has convicted a former senior intelligence official and his son on charges including illegal gambling, unlawful possession of ammunition, and the holding of state secrets.
The case was brought by the Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction, which stated that both men, Aleksandër Shulla, a former director of the State Intelligence Service (SHISH), and his son, Pandeli Shulla, faced a range of other criminal charges.
Court convicts former SHISH director and son
According to the prosecution statement in criminal proceedings no. 370/2023, authorities were tipped off that Pandeli Shulla was allegedly running an illegal gambling premise.
Authorities acted after receiving information that illegal games of chance were being played in a bar operated by Shulla in the 30 Vjetori neighbourhood.
Investigators would later confirm that computers and devices connected to the internet were running unlicensed gambling software resembling “Adex Casino games.”
Police investigators then raided the apartment of Shulla Senior, finding five live “7.62 mm caliber cartridges, a black handbag inside which seven “7.62 mm caliber cartridges, and two USBs with the inscriptions “Turbox” and “Kingston” were found.
Aleksandër Shulla stated that he “forgot” to hand over the ammunition after he left his director-level position.
On the drives themselves, the prosecutors described that “Two classified ‘secret’-level SHISH documents, which legally exist in single copies only, were found copied onto USB drives inside a private residence.”
The illegal gambling activity and the serious breach of classified information security led to the case being presented against both father and son.
Both men convicted of operating illegal gambling venue
The official prosecution statement read that both men were convicted of “Illegal online gambling operations conducted via computers in a bar environment. Unlawful retention of ammunition after dismissal from public office and unauthorised copying, possession, and exposure of classified intelligence materials, stored on USB drives.”
Both Albanian defendants received custodial sentences that were later reduced and suspended, resulting in probation. In addition, Aleksandër Shulla was barred from holding public office for five years.
The prosecution said the case demonstrated how an investigation into illegal gambling activity ultimately exposed a broader breach of classified information safeguards at the highest levels of public trust.
Featured image: Adobe Firefly
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The gaming regulator in the Netherlands, Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), has slapped JOI Gaming Limited with a massive €400,000 fine as they accuse the brand of using role models in advertising JACK’s Racing Day.
The gaming company offers casino games and a sportsbook under the Dutch Remote Gambling Act and has been licensed by the Ksa since 2021.
Now, though, the gambling authority says there were several role models present in the advertising of JACK’s Racing Day which is Europe’s largest combined car, motorcycle, and karting event that takes place each year.
“For example, role models signed caps with the logo and brand name JACK’S. Photos have also been posted on the website and social media channels of JACK’S Racing Day on which role models pose with hostesses in corporate clothing with the JACK’S logo,” the KSA explains in its announcement about the monetary fine.
Use of role models is prohibited, Ksa explains in JOI Gaming fine announcement
In the Netherlands, the use of role models in gambling advertisements is prohibited and there are strict rules on this subject. Role models could include famous people, (former) professional footballers or influencers. The Ksa states these people can be an example of success, behavior, or a dream lifestyle for impressionable young adults.
“In high-risk games of chance, such as online gambling, the use of role models is therefore prohibited. For games of chance with a lower risk, such as lotteries, they may be used under strict conditions,” the regulator says.
According to the news release on the matter, the Ksa had previously imposed a penalty payment on JOI Gaming Limited with the announcement to immediately remove these social posts. The company complied with the ask.
JOI Gaming requested an interim injunction from the court, with this having been partially awarded which is why the fine is only now being made public.
Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram
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A property manager in Utah has been sentenced to 25 months’ imprisonment for defrauding over $2 million to support his gambling habits.
Blake Floyd Cozzens, 36, was jailed for wire fraud and bank fraud for embezzling money from homeowners’ associations, property owners, and tenants, as well as fraudulently stealing money from a bank and a company that provided property-management software using his position as a property manager.

Cedar City Property Manager Sentenced to Prison After Defrauding Victims of Over $2.1M
Press Release: https://t.co/BMtsABZlFP pic.twitter.com/oIKcgGE1Ap
— US Attorney Melissa Holyoak (@USAttyHolyoak) December 16, 2025

US District Court Judge Robert J. Shelby also ordered Cozzens to take a term of four years of supervised release and pay $2,168,640 in restitution to the victims.
“For over five years, Cozzens abused his position as a property manager to steal and cheat people and businesses to fund his gambling lifestyle,” said US Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “As homeowners struggle with affordability, the last thing they need to worry about is that their hard-earned money paid to HOAs will be stolen from those entrusted to serve them.”
Cozzens wouldn’t be the first to turn to fraud to support a gambling lifestyle, with a similar crime committed over in the UK.
Millions of dollars were embezzled in Utah and Las Vegas
The fraud took place in both Iron County, Utah and Las Vegas. Between January 2020 and January 2025, Cozzens used his position as a property manager for several HOAs and individual owners to embezzle $586,300 that was meant to be safeguarded for property management, instead funnelling it into his own funds. He also submitted fraudulent deposits to an online property management system, stealing a further $210,000.
In Las Vegas, Cozzens defrauded a bank by handing in seven cashier’s checks with a value of $1,414,000 to Las Vegas casinos in exchange for markers, then falsely telling the bank that he had lost the checks. The bank stopped the payments to the casinos, resulting in losses to the bank of $1,395,673.
“When individuals in trusted roles commit financial crimes, they harm the very communities they are meant to serve,” said Glen Henderson, Inspector in Charge of the Phoenix Division. “The US Postal Inspection Service will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to investigate fraud and ensure justice for victims.”
Featured image: Washington County Police
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A 36-year-old man from the Belfast area, in Northern Ireland, has been sentenced this week (December 15) for offences linked to the operation of an illegal bingo enterprise and online raffle from his home address.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have provided the update, stating that the man had entered an earlier guilty plea to both offences. The sentences were for “organizing or managing prohibited gaming, and possessing criminal property.”
As a result, the man was handed a 10 month custodial sentence suspended for 12 months.
Bingo slips and dabbers seized during search of illegal bingo enterprise
According to Detective Sergeant Torrance from the Police Service’s Economic Crime Unit at the force, the investigation in this case began in 2020.

Man sentenced for operation of illegal bingo enterprise.https://t.co/NuSngEjY6O pic.twitter.com/Qh7TFo6sL7
— Police Belfast City Centre (@PSNIBelfast) December 15, 2025

“In Northern Ireland this is an illegal offence under the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985.
“We commenced enquiries beginning with the analysis of bank accounts which revealed transactions over a three year period linked to evidence of a bingo and raffle enterprise.”
A house and a vehicle were also searched and it was then that bingo-related evidence was seized in the form of bingo slips, bingo dabbers, delivery cards, raffle tickets, bingo cards, cash, and other items.
“Electronic items were also removed from the property for further analysis which documented several recordings of the bingo taking place at the premises.
“We also worked alongside the local council who advised an application had not been received to operate a bingo enterprise – and our enquiries with HMRC also documented inconsistent earnings.
“McAreavey made substantial financial gain from this operation. Profits were also used to help fund a second unrelated business operated by the accused.”
The DCI, Uel Boyd, of the PSNI Economic Crime Unit has further warned people against these types of activities: “Anyone involved in unlicensed gambling will be detected, investigated and ultimately prosecuted.
“We work alongside partner agencies and licensing authorities to investigate reports, follow financial and intelligence leads, and ensure those responsible are brought before court.”
Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram
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