Odessa region law enforcement officers have completed the investigation and sent an indictment to court against a 31-year-old resident of Izmail, who is suspected of intentionally establishing and spreading criminal influence and organizing illegal gambling; during the searches, cash in various currencies, equipment, and accounting records were seized.
The Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office reported that investigators have sent an indictment to the court against the so-called "criminal overseer of Bessarabia", whose illegal activities were stopped in August of this year. The indictment accuses the 31-year-old man of organizing an illegal gambling network and intentionally establishing and spreading criminal influence. The suspect is currently being held in custody without bail.
According to the investigation, after the previous informal leader of the criminal environment of Izmail left for Europe in 2023, the suspect took over his functions. His duties included the accumulation and distribution of the "common treasury", monitoring compliance with unofficial rules among "his own" and resolving internal conflicts. The activities of the defendant, according to the prosecutor's office, gradually covered Izmail and the Izmail and Bolgrad districts.
In September 2024, the suspect, according to the investigation, together with several other individuals, organized a closed poker room in Izmail, where only players were allowed to enter “on the recommendation of their friends.” For this purpose, they rented and equipped the premises — they installed ventilation and electricity, purchased tables, cards and chips. According to investigators, the daily income of the gambling establishment could reach 1.2 million hryvnias; during searches of the premises, equipment, draft accounting records, 22 thousand US dollars, 60 thousand hryvnias and 5.6 thousand euros were seized.
In addition to the main defendant, indictments have also been sent to the court against four more people involved in organizing and conducting illegal gambling. One of the previous leaders of the criminal environment of Izmail is now on the international wanted list; he is accused of spreading criminal influence.
The prosecutor's office adds that the suspect acted cautiously: he managed and organized the activities, but according to investigators, he did not directly commit serious crimes. At the same time, the case materials indicate that he had previously been held criminally liable - in particular, in proceedings for hooliganism with the use of weapons, intentional bodily harm, robberies with violence, and robbery.
The pre-trial investigation has been completed, charges have been filed under articles providing for liability for organizing an illegal gambling business and creating/spreading criminal influence; the final decision in the case will be made by the court.
