‘Degenerate Gambler’ indicted on illegal bookmaking charges

William West Roberts, a 57‑year‑old Las Vegas gambler, was indicted Wednesday on felony charges tied to an alleged multi‑million‑dollar bookmaking operation. The indictment, unsealed before District Judge Carli Kierny, accuses Roberts of operating a gaming constitution without a license, unlawfully receiving compensation for accepting wagers, attempting to launder money and committing a gross misdemeanor by accepting illegal bets. Roberts was first arrested in April after an investigation by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the FBI. Authorities allege he ran a sportsbook through a Costa Rica‑based site, ezwin247.com, and mingled proceeds with accounts linked to a fitness center and a social‑media gambling venture called Wild Bill Consulting Inc. An earlier dismissal of the case did not deter prosecutors, who returned with a grand jury indictment after Roberts maintained his innocence. In statements to the Las Vegas Review‑Journal following the August dismissal, Roberts declared, “There’s nothing,” he said. “If you’re looking for h2o successful the desert, you’re not going to find it. There’s nary h2o successful the desert. I’m the desert. You’re not gonna find immoderate h2o with me.” Chief Deputy District Attorney Austin Beaumont outlined the evidence, saying, “What we were capable to find was that Mr. Roberts has been moving a gaming website done Costa Rica for the past mates years specifically nether ezwin247.com,” Beaumont said. “In 2025 helium showed income, unlawful income of $208,888.50 from unlawful sportsbook making. In 2026 helium showed income of $239,850 truthful acold this year.” He added, “More importantly, helium was ratcheting up his sportsbook making to the constituent that helium was making conscionable nether $50,000 a period this twelvemonth anterior to his arrest,” Beaumont said. Beaumont also recounted an encounter after Roberts’s April arrest: “Of people the undercover cause said no, and past instantly began placing much bets which Mr. Roberts accepted,” Beaumont said. He asserted that Roberts continued to take wagers, noting, “Effectively helium has been continuing to prosecute successful the nonstop aforesaid unlawful behavior,” Beaumont said. According to Beaumont, Roberts accepted more than $69,000 in additional bets and laundered the funds through his gym and a sports‑betting prime service. Defense attorney Chris Rasmussen insisted on his client’s innocence, stating, “I don’t deliberation immoderate of the grounds has changed, and we inactive judge he’s going to beryllium recovered not guilty,” Rasmussen said. He criticized