20 Charged in Connecticut Betting Fraud Case Worth $190,000

Authorities in Connecticut say a widening investigation into an alleged online betting fraud has now led to charges against 20 residents. Officials continue their search for two suspected organizers believed to have coordinated the activity from outside the state.

Authorities Uncover DraftKings Chargeback Scam

Investigators from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection claim the scheme revolved around accounts on DraftKings. These accounts were funded with payment cards tied to bank accounts that belonged to unsuspecting victims. Court records suggest the activity took place over six weeks in late summer 2024 and generated losses that exceeded $190,000, as reported by the New Haven Register.

Based on warrants, participants attached issued Visa cards to betting profiles. Though the cards carried the suspects’ names, the linked accounts were tied to customers at Wells Fargo who had not approved the transactions. After funds were deposited, accounts showed only minimal wagering before withdrawal requests were submitted to separate payment methods, often accounts controlled by the suspects themselves.

When legitimate account holders later contested the charges, financial institutions processed reversals that left the betting platform covering the disputed sums, investigators said. Authorities noted that many of the transactions followed a similar pattern, such as comparable deposit values, fast cash-outs, and shared contact details among different suspects.

Waterbury Woman Among Suspects in Expanding Betting Fraud Case

One case highlighted by police involves a woman from Waterbury who created an account after being approached by an acquaintance promising easy income. Records indicate that thousands of dollars were deposited and withdrawn to a bank account in her name at JPMorgan Chase. She later told investigators she believed someone else had set up a payment card in her identity without her knowledge.

Multiple defendants identified the same two men as the individuals directing participants and providing instructions on how to move funds. Authorities say warrants remain active for those suspects named in court filings as Manuel Pichardo and Luis Rodriguez, both of whom were last believed to have connections to Texas.

Charges filed across the cases range from identity theft and payment-card misuse to computer crime, larceny, and conspiracy counts. Many defendants have pleaded not guilty, and proceedings are ongoing in several state courts.

Officials say the investigation remains open, with prosecutors still examining whether additional individuals or financial losses may be tied to the operation.