A 53-year-old Indian national from Gujarat, western India, has pleaded guilty to his role in a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling operation in the United States that prosecutors say generated more than $9.36 million in gross proceeds.
Six Businesses Allegedly Involved
New York, US, resident S.N.P. admitted his role in the conspiracy in Missouri’s federal court.
The case involved six businesses in southwest Missouri that prosecutors said operated illegal gambling activities while labeling themselves as “internet amusement arcade games, skill game arcades, and adult arcades,” prosecutors say.
Instead, they allegedly offered games of chance and gave patrons access to a variety of gambling devices and slot machines, thus violating state and federal laws.
Missouri allows regulated gambling such as licensed casino gaming and the Missouri Lottery, while deeming unauthorized gambling as illegal.
According to the US Department of Justice, P. pleaded guilty to a long list of charges that included the following: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, and wire fraud.
P. admitted that, together with his co-conspirators, he obtained about $9,362,114 in gross proceeds through the scheme and later carried out financial transactions to launder the money.
The businesses operated under names including Big Win Arcade #1, Big Win Arcade #2, Spin Hitters, and Vegas Arcade in Springfield. Two other locations were Spin Zone in Joplin and Vegas City Arcade in Branson West.
Indictment with 72 Counts
P. was one of nine people charged in a 72-count superseding indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield in May 2025. Accordign to the lengthy indictment, the group allegedly operated the businesses for almost three years, between July 1, 2022, and May 13, 2025.
All nine defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, and operating illegal gambling businesses.
Each of them also faced at least one wire fraud charge, while eight defendants were charged with money laundering.
P. faces substantial potential prison time, as the maximum statutory penalties include up to 20 years for several of the fraud and money laundering charges, while the conspiracy to commit money laundering charge carries a maximum sentence of five years.
The federal court will determine his actual sentence based on sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
A sentencing date has not yet been officially set, and the US Probation Office will conduct a pre-sentence investigation before sentencing.
The investigation involved several federal and local agencies, including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and police departments in Springfield and Joplin.