Canadian Priest Gambles Away $386,000 in Donations Earmarked for Iraqi Refugees

A Canadian priest in Ontario has admitted to losing more than CDN$500,000 (US$386,000) in charitable funds that were supposed to help Iraqi refugees searching for asylum into the eastern Canadian province.
Canadian priest Amer Saka gambled away more than $380,000 in funds raised that were allowed to be used to aid Iraq refugees. No charges have already been filed against the Ontario man of the cloth.
Father Amer Saka of this St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church told Bishop Emanuel Shaleta in that he had gambled away all the money, which had been collected through parishioner donations february. The Chaldean Church is headquartered in Baghdad, Iraq, and goes back towards the century that is 1st though Saka’s parish in London, Ontario was established less than five years ago with Pope Benedict XVI’s blessing.
‘We believe Father Saka has a serious gambling issue and that these funds may have been utilized for that purpose,’ Shaleta told the Toronto Star. ‘He called me . . . and said he lost all the cash.’
Unholy Happenings
The roughly $386,000 was deposited into a merchant account entrusted to Saka by families belonging to St. Joseph’s. The finances were allowed to be safeguarded by the church and utilized to assist refugees that are incoming Iraq.
The Chaldean refugee sponsorship program requires donors to support migrants for at the least one after they arrive in Canada year.
‘They failed to provide this cash as a contribution for their church,’ Shaleta stated. ‘They trusted him, this cash had not been for him. It was to be given back once again to the refugees [once they arrived here].’
It’s unclear what Saka’s game of preference was in the casino, or which location or venues he frequented.
Regardless, it’s yet another eye that is black the Catholic Church, https://wizardofozslots.org/ while the religion remains coping with persistent claims of sexual abuse within its organization. Simply this month, a state grand jury in Pennsylvania discovered that more than 50 priests and religious leaders in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona intimately abused and raped children more than a period that is 40-year.
No formal charges have been levied on Saka, but an investigation by the London Police provider is ongoing. Saka has since checked into the Southdown Institute, an Ontario addiction and health that is mental center for clergy members.
Are Church Donations Safe?
While Saka attempts to overcome his gambling addiction, parishes across the country might want to take a closer look at their bank accounts, while the St. Joseph incident could possibly be miniscule should additional priests try their hand during the casino with money that is not theirs.
In February, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCBC) announced a campaign that is joint the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, Aid to the Church in Need Canada, and the Catholic Near East Welfare Association Canada, in which it had raised over $3.5 million.
The charity that is CCBC will reportedly be distributed to Syrian refugees seeking safety in the Middle East and components of Europe. What sort of safeguards have actually been set up, if any, to protect the donations and make sure they reach refugees is unclear.
With regard to the donors and refugees, we could only pray that the $3.5 million is being better secured than the contributions collected by St. Joseph’s.
It should get without saying that priests aren’t allowed to take part in gambling activities, especially with parishioner monies, but to reinforce that notion, Shaleta explained that ‘it’s against the rules’ associated with the Catholic priesthood.
Washington, D.C. Always a Political Gamble, But Could A actual casino come to Nation’s Capital?
Washington, D.C., is a powerhouse of intrigue, bluffs, and gambles, but that reality could one day expand to an actual casino that is land-based the District, if a team funded by the anonymous organization in Delaware get its means.
Perhaps not the most glamorous location to pull tourists to, but backers of the Washington, D.C., casino are pressing an initiative in hopes of revitalizing the bad and crime-ridden (but historic) Anacostia neighborhood. (Image: elevationdcmedia.com)
A group known as the people Committee to get the Limited Gaming Initiative of 2016 is wanting to place a referendum on the ballot this November in the District of Columbia, asking area voters to determine whether casino-style gambling should be legalized in the downtown area.
Committee Chairperson Berry Jerrels, a longtime Washington activist that is political businessman, wants to place poker, blackjack, and other card games in the historic district of Anacostia, named for the river located to its east.
The region ended up being originally a stronghold associated with Nacochtank Indian tribe, whom were pushed out by Colonial settlers as far right back as 1608, whenever Captain John Smith of Pocahontas popularity moved through. Fast-forward 400 years, and also the latest wampum are in the proper execution of casino chips to improve the area’s coffers and job options.
‘It’s about job training, real jobs, new revenue for the city, plus an elevated, regulated gaming experience for visitors,’ Jerrels told WAMU 88.5, initial socket to report regarding the casino developments. ‘Our goal would be to target the population that is visiting of District.’
Anti-Anacostia
Jerrels’ desire to attract and benefit off tourists visiting the capital seems fine on paper. However, the truth is that few sightseers venture over the Anacostia River away from the downtown nationwide Mall area.
A DC-based commercial realtor told us that the Anacostia neighborhood is one associated with the city’s poorest, and home to a good amount of crime and drug activity.
According to data compiled from the United States Census Bureau and FBI Uniform Crime Reports, Anacostia has a 207 percent higher crime price than the average that is national and a resident associated with the area features a one in 11 possibility of becoming a victim of a bad crime.
Local residents additionally do not appear too thrilled about bringing casino gambling towards the community.
‘It just generally seems to me that the intersection that has such name recognition as Good Hope and MLK . . . [it doesn’t make sense] that you would decimate that boulevard with some gambling facility,’ Anacostia Economic Development Corporation President Stanley Jackson said.
Many Obstacles to conquer
Numerous hurdles stand in Jerrels’ course before he can bring their proposition to ballot.
First, the D.C. Board of Elections must accept the initiative during a hearing planned for might 4. Should the board do therefore, Jerrels would then need to collect still 25,000 signatures to place the initiative on the ballot.
Another problem standing in his way lies with the history of his reported financial backer, US Virgin Islands-based gambling businessman Shawn Scott.
According to legal filings made by Jerrels, Anacostia Redevelopment, an LLC registered in Delaware, is bankrolling the video gaming push. Jerrels and Scott were also in paired up in 2006 to legalize movie slots during the Anacostia that is same location but that measure failed.
Scott has a checkered past when it comes towards the video gaming industry, though. He’s been denied licenses in various states, and ended up being slapped with a $600,000 fine for forging signatures in 2004.
This time around might be the MGM National Harbor, which is scheduled to open in the second half of 2016 though Jerrels’ and Scott’s previous attempts failed, one asset for their campaign. Seven miles due south of Anacostia, it may be a compelling attempting to sell point that as long as gaming is coming to your area anyhow, it will make sense to keep those revenues within city limits.
But the fee of bringing gambling towards the city doesn’t, at the moment, have actually widespread support. Gambling the traditional method has been illegal in the country’s money for many years, and it doesn’t appear that’ll be changing anytime soon.
Phil Mickelson Gambling Pal Gregory Silveira Withdraws Guilty Plea in Money Laundering Case
Golfer Phil Mickelson declines to comment about any involvement that is potential the money laundering case against ex-handicapper Gregory Silveira. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)
Gambler Gregory Silveira, recognized to have ties to golfer (and gambler) Phil Mickelson, has been facing costs of money laundering in a la court. But now Silveriera, who had previously plead guilty to your fees, desires to improve his plea never to.
The 56-year-old former recreations handicapper from La Quinta, California year that is last to three charges of laundering almost $3 million between an ‘unnamed gambling client,’ who was later on identified by ESPN as Mickelson, plus an illegal offshore sports guide.
Mickelson, who is recognized to have a fondness for gambling, is maybe not named in court documents or accused of any crime.
In March 2010, based on court documents, Silveira received a wire transfer of $2.75 million from the client into his bank that is own account. He then transferred $2.475 million, plus the remaining $275,000, into two separate bank reports, both in their name.
PM Me
According to ESPN’s Outside the Lines (OTL), a show that focuses on American sports issues ‘both off and on the industry,’ a youthful version of Silveira’s plea agreement included a reference to ‘money laundering of funds from P.M.’ When OTL inquired concerning the initials, the prosecution had the document stricken from the records, filing an amended variation the day that is next.
But now Silveira wishes to withdraw their guilty plea, claiming that he was merely seeking to guard ‘an individual who did maybe not wish his wagering activity to become public.’ The ex-handicapper claims he had been offered bad advice by his previous protection lawyer.
Court documents filed Tuesday by Silveira’s new attorney, James Duff, stated: ‘Silveira’s original counsel had told him that the money Silveira received from the gambler was ‘tainted’ and that Silveira’s transfer of those funds constituted money laundering. This advice was incorrect.’
Duff adds within the court filing that the cash had been not ‘tainted’ and that Silveira was merely settling a friend’s ‘gambling financial obligation with legally earned money.’
No (Sensical) Comment
Mickelson, meanwhile, refused (via their counsel) to offer an official statement on the situation, although when confronted about any of it directly by way of a journalist at last year’s Scottish Open, he offered the following rather oblique comment onto it all.
‘People are likely to say things good; they’re going to say things bad; they are going to say things true; they go to say things perhaps not real,’ he stated. ‘The fact is, I’m comfortable enough with whom I am as an individual like I must touch upon every little report that comes out. that I do not feel’
Mickelson is famously known for betting large on the Super Bowl, and in 2001 was reprimanded by the PGA for wagering on the upshot of A tiger woods shot at the NEC Invitational, in breach of the association’s strict anti-gambling policy.
More recently, in January, he chastised 17-year-old Australian pro Ryan Ruffles for publicly disclosing the details of a bet the two had made while sparring on the course. According to Ruffles, Mickelson offered him 2:1 on a $2,500 bet that he would win the game, but Mickelson lost by one shot. a disgruntled mickelson later said that the sum have been exaggerated.
Arizona Tribe Can Move Forward with Glendale Casino Expansion US that is following appeals Decision
The Desert Diamond West Valley Casino exposed to less-than-stellar reviews last December, but that should change after the Arizona tribe handling the Glendale facility won its lawsuit against the state to offer Class III games. (Image: foxcarolina.com)
An Arizona tribe received the blessing of the 9th United States Circuit Court of Appeals this week to expand its Glendale casino to add Class III gaming and integrate slots and table games. In a lawsuit between the Tohono O’odham Nation vs. the State of Arizona, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and Gila River Indian Community, the court ruled on Tuesday that the Tohono tribe has every right to work its Desert Diamond West Valley Casino and Resort in Glendale, Arizona.
State lawmakers and the two opposing tribes argued that Tohono doesn’t have the legal directly to operate a casino on land that wasn’t under their ownership if the Indian community reached its gaming compact with Arizona in 2002.
The 9th Circuit Court rejected the state’s arguments and ruled, ‘The Tohono O’odham Nation’s plan to build a casino and conduct Class III gaming on a certain parcel of land did not violate a gaming compact between the Nation and the State of Arizona in a unanimous decision. The Compact expressly authorizes Class III video gaming ( table card games and slot machines) in the ‘Indian Lands’ of the Nation.’
Decision Best For Western Valley
Located not as much as 20 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix, the Desert Diamond West Valley Casino opened last December under much scrutiny.
The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian and Gila River Indian communities opposed the resort as a result of their own self-interests, as the 2 tribes run gambling enterprises into the Phoenix regions of Chandler and Scottsdale.
Following many court decisions, the Tohono Nation was permitted to progress with its Glendale resort.
To date, the western Valley location has only been permitted to offer Class II games. The category is defined by the Arizona Department of Gaming as being ‘limited to games or gambling devices on the basis of the game of bingo, and card games in which players perform just against each other, and the homely house cannot win.’
The lack of slots and other popular commercial casino games has resulted in the West Valley Casino being panned by site visitors. Bringing Class III variants to the casino floor should rejuvenate desire for the facility, and, in change, generate more substantial revenues.
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