Assistant U. S. Attorneys Andrew P. Young (619) 546-7981,Benjamin Katz (619) 546-9604 or Mark W. Pletcher (619) 546-9714
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY– January 10, 2016
SAN DIEGO – Owen Hanson, leader of the violent “ODOG Enterprise,” pleaded guilty today to conspiring to operate an international drug trafficking, gambling and money laundering enterprise in the United States, Central and South America and Australia from 2012 to 2016.
According to his plea agreement, ODOG Enterprise trafficked hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, MDMA (also known as “ecstasy”), anabolic steroids and Human Growth Hormone (“HGH”). As Hanson admitted, ODOG Enterprise’s drug operation routinely distributed controlled substances at wholesale and retail levels, including selling performance enhancing drugs to numerous professional athletes. The ODOG Enterprise also operated a vast illegal gambling operation focused on high-stakes wagers placed on sporting events. The Enterprise used threats and violence against its gambling and drug customers to force compliance.
Three of Hanson’s associates also pleaded guilty today: Giovanni Brandolino (aka “Tank”), Marlyn Villarreal and Jeff Bellandi.
In one instance discussed in court papers, an individual who owed the ODOG Enterprise more than $2 million received a DVD showing a beheading, and a photo of his desecrated family’s gravestone, in an effort to collect the alleged debt. Hanson pleaded guilty today to conspiring to operate the ODOG enterprise, in violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (“RICO”) statute, and to conspiring to distribute controlled substances.
Brandolino, the second-highest ranking member of the ODOG Enterprise, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate RICO and conspiracy to commit money laundering. As part of the plea agreement Brandolino admitted that he assisted Hanson with the importation and distribution of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and heroin. Brandolino specifically admitted establishing a drug distribution network in New Jersey and New York. Villarreal and Bellandi also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.
So far, 16 of the 22 defendants charged in connection with this case have pleaded guilty, including Daniel Portley-Hanks, Jack Rissell, Kenny Hilinski, and Rufus Rhone. Portley-Hanks, a Los Angeles based private investigator who assisted Hanson with tracking down delinquent gamblers and other individuals who owed the enterprise money, pleaded guilty to extortion on December 27, 2016. Jack Rissell, labeled as an “enforcer” in the Superseding Indictment, also pleaded guilty to extortion on December 17, 2016. Kenny Hilinski, Hanson’s associate, pleaded guilty to the RICO conspiracy on May 24, 2016. Hilinski operated much of the gambling apparatus from Peru where he maintained various gambling websites, coordinated the collection of payments from various bookies and gamblers, and directed the organization’s runners to distribute the proceeds to Hanson through shell companies and cash deliveries. Portley-Hanks, Rissell, and Hilinski are awaiting sentencing.
Rhone, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine early last year, was sentenced on September 19, 2016 to 72 months in prison.
The remaining defendants are set for trial on February 14, 2017. Luke Fairfield, a San Diego based Certified Public Accountant is accused of assisting Hanson with laundering the proceeds of his various illegal endeavors by, in part, setting up shell corporations and advising members of the Enterprise on how to structure bank transactions to avoid detection by bank security and law enforcement. Derek Loville, a former professional football player, is accused of distributing retail quantities of drugs for the ODOG Enterprise in Arizona. Dylan Anderson and Khalid Petras, the other two remaining defendants, are accused of running an illegal gambling business. charges against these four defendants are merely accusations, and they are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case arose out of a joint investigation by FBI, IRS and the New South Wales (Australia) Police Force in conjunction with the New South Wales Crime Commission. Hanson was initially indicted and arrested on September 9, 2015 after arranging the delivery of five kilograms of cocaine and five kilograms of methamphetamine. Eight individuals in Australia have been arrested in connection with Hanson’s global organization. Assistant U. S. Attorneys Andrew P. Young, Benjamin Katz and Mark W. Pletcher are prosecuting the case.
DEFENDANTCase Number: 15CR2310-WQH
Owen Hanson Age: 34
Luke Fairfield Age: 40
Kenny Hilinski Age: 39
Giovanni Brandolino Age: 42
Daniel Portley-Hanks Age: 70
Jack Rissell Age: 50
Derek Loville Age: 48
Chalie D’Agostino Age: 52
Marlyn Villareal Age: 32
Dylan Anderson Age: 34
Tim Bryan Age: 48
Jim Muse Age: 53
Jeff Bellandi aka “Jazzy” Age: 50
Curtis Chen Age: 33
James Duley Age: 41
Dee Foxx Age: 35
Khalid Petras Age: 55
Rahul Bhagat Age: 31
David Kipper Age: 35
Todd Oldham Age: 32
Daniel Ortega Age: 42
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count 1 (Defendants Hanson and Brandolino)
Racketeering Conspiracy to Conduct RICO Enterprise Affairs, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison, fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss caused by the offense, forfeiture of any property obtained or operated by RICO enterprise, five years of supervised release.
Count II (Defendants Bellandi and Villarreal)
Illegal Gambling Business, 18 U.S.C. § 1955
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison, fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss caused by the offense, forfeiture of proceeds, three years of supervised release.
Count 3 (Defendants Brandolino, Villarreal and Bellandi)
Money Laundering Conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison, fine of $500,000 or twice the gross gain or loss caused by the offense, forfeiture of property involved in the offense, three years of supervised release.
Count 4 (Defendant Hanson)
Conspiracy to Distribute Narcotics, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 846
Maximum penalty: Life in prison, fine of $20 million or twice the gross gain or loss caused by the offense, forfeiture of any proceeds, 10 years of supervised release.
AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation – San Diego Field Office
Internal Revenue Service – San Diego
Australian Crime Commission
New South Wales Police Force
New South Wales Crime Commission