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An Arizona man has been sentenced to 87 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, after scamming 54 individuals to pay for a gambling habit and lead a lavish lifestyle, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office.
Anthonie Ruinard, Jr, will also have to pay $4,508,057 in restitution to every victim in the case.

Arizona Man Sentenced to More than Seven Years for Defrauding 54 Victims in Investment Fraud Schemehttps://t.co/K7L3VvnbBO pic.twitter.com/y8u92NCuE9
— FBI Phoenix (@FBIPhoenix) November 24, 2025

Ruinard was able to fraudulently scam 54 people out of roughly $5.6 million through an investment fraud scheme, which was under the guise of a business titled Legacy Investors Group Inc.
The 40-year-old posed as a successful investor and promised those affected in the case a guaranteed return across investments in areas such as real estate and private equity.
Some victims did receive money early on in the scheme to avoid suspicion, but Ruinard used excuses such as the ongoing war in Ukraine and an unprecedented market to keep the ruse going.
“This sentencing sends a clear and unmistakable message: individuals who engage in financial fraud for personal gain will be held accountable,” said Heith Janke, the FBI agent who was in charge of the case.
“The FBI, together with our law enforcements partners, will continue to identify, investigate and pursue those who orchestrate criminal schemes for their own profit. We remain committed to protecting the public and safeguarding the integrity of our financial system.”
Authorities say that while his fraud case was still unfolding, Ruinard Jr. allegedly killed an 18-year-old visiting Arizona in 2023. He’s now facing a separate set of charges for that incident, including second-degree murder and abandoning a body.
Arizona judge issues sentence in gambling-fueled fraud case
United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich delivered the sentence on November 17, and it will be ten years before he can live a normal life again.
“Fraudsters actively prey on communities to steal hard earned money by using trust and false promises for their own greed and benefit,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine following the news.
“This sentence demonstrates that not only will scammers be held accountable financially, they will also face significant time in jail.  The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute these crimes in order to protect the honest work of those who build their lives here in Arizona.”
Ruinard took millions from his victims and spent it on items such as an armored vehicle, gambling, living expenses and credit card payments.
It was reported in 2024 that around 80 million US consumers have lost money to fraud or financial scams over the previous five years.
Featured image: Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
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FanDuel have announced the launch of Pass the Leg via a press release, which is an in-app feature allowing customers to build a group parlay collaboratively.
This new app turns standard parlay betting into something which can be shared with friends as the holiday season fast approaches.

INTRODUCING: Pass The Leg
This Thanksgiving, we’re letting you & your crew build your parlay TOGETHER
Learn More: https://t.co/MikoYDs67V pic.twitter.com/G2ZBj4Jyhx
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) November 24, 2025

The main feature of Pass the Leg allows players to add their own leg into a shared group parlay, before being able to place individual bets using their own funds.
Furthermore, a profit boost could enhance the winnings across the shared parlay, and the app will be made exclusive for the three NFL matches taking place on Thanksgiving.
Pass the Leg is the first multi-user parlay experience offered by a US operator, marking a shift in how sportsbooks are evolving to meet the needs of players across the country.
“Pass The Leg is all about how our customers actually experience sports – together, sharing excitement, and creating memories around the games they love,” said Managing Director at FanDuel, Karol Corcoran.
“We listened to how fans were already collaborating in group chats and family gatherings, and built a feature that brings that natural social energy directly into their betting experience.”
FanDuel is attempting to move with the times
The introduction of Pass the Leg is not the only way that the company is evolving. Earlier in November, FanDuel announced that it would be launching prediction markets through the new FanDuel Predicts app.
This will be a joint venture between parent company Flutter Inc. and CME Group, and it is set to be launched in December.
FanDuel appears to be following in the footsteps of DraftKings, which is also launching its own prediction market platform in the near future, specifically targeting states where sports betting is illegal.
At the time of writing, 38 states allow sports betting, yet just 30 of those have some form of online platforms.
Featured Image: FanDuel
The post FanDuel unveils Pass the Leg, its first in-app collaborative group parlay appeared first on ReadWrite.

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has pleaded not guilty and has been released on a $5 million bond in the betting case that has dominated sports headlines.
The NBA Hall of Famer has denied allegations that he was involved in or knew of the inner workings of an alleged card game crime syndicate.
He and thirty-one other defendants in the case were appearing in Brooklyn Federal Court, which was the stuff of Hollywood mafia and high-tech movie plots.
Billup’s legal representation submitted the bond application to U.S. District Judge Ramon Reye. He and his defense team deny his involvement in the betting and poker scam, which has resulted in charges of money laundering and fraud against the former star.
Billups released on $5M bond
We covered the initial rumours swirling around the alleged trio of NBA stars, including Billups, former Raptors player Damon Jones, and active Miami Heat shooter Terry Rozier.
Billups and Rozier have been suspended without pay as a result, and the NBA Players’ Association has challenged the suspensions.
A spokesperson told NBC, “While we are in agreement with the league that upholding the integrity of the game is of the utmost importance, their decision to place Terry on leave without pay is counter to the presumption of innocence and inconsistent with the terms of our Collective Bargaining Agreement.”
Then the FBI, in a blockbuster announcement, detailed the games involved in the scheme and the central mafia figures who allegedly orchestrated the poker plot.
Two New York locations were, according to the federal media brief, used to entice high roller players into card games for millions of dollars.
What these participants were unaware of was a finely tuned technological plot to strip them of their fortunes.
Advanced card-reading facilities, altered shuffling machines, and hidden wireless technology were used to reveal the winning hand via cell phone and filtered through a role titled “Quarterback.”
Where the NBA stars come into focus in the scheme was a two-fold approach that involved these Casino Royale-esque wagers and a supposed abuse of NBA betting rules for active players and managers.
NBA betting scandal
According to the FBI, NBA players were used as “Face Cards” to legitimize and entice fellow sporting professionals into card game environments.
What is not known is the link between these individuals, such as Billups, Jones, and Rozier, and the depth of the supposed parlay and prop betting investigations that are also ongoing.
The FBI alleges that Jones, Billups, and Rozier, who had insider knowledge of specific matters such as injury status, attempted to disclose these confidential matters to connections who aimed to profit from that NBA insider knowledge.
The severity of these instances has prompted NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to attend and report to Congress on the progress and the league’s internal investigations.

The following has been released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/vJ4bL2JwiC
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) October 23, 2025

“This investigation exposed a gambling ring built around the NBA, where players and associates allegedly used inside information and even faked injuries to fraudulently manipulate bets on games,” said Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD).
It remains to be seen if Billups, Jones, and Rozier will face further penalties by league officials until the conclusion of the cases. Still, the sports world watches on in anticipation to see how deep the betting scandal goes.
Featured image: Keith Allison via WikiCommons / CC BY-SA 2.0
The post Chauncey Billups released on $5M bond as he pleads not guilty appeared first on ReadWrite.