Man Convicted of Running Illegal Gambling Operation in Denver
A 38-year-old man, Jonathan Arvay, has been found guilty by a federal jury for operating an illegal gambling business, according to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
Arvay was convicted on charges of conducting an illegal gambling operation and conspiracy to run such a business. The details regarding the duration of the operation or the timeline of his arrest were not provided in the release.
Arvay was the operator of Player One Arcade in Denver, which was part of a broader network of gambling parlors stretching from Greeley to Pueblo. These parlors offered various forms of electronic gambling, including games resembling arcade-style machines and virtual slot games.
Customers who played these games would earn credits that could be exchanged for Obsidian Digital Asset Coin, a supposed cryptocurrency. The currency could only be redeemed for cash at special ATM-like machines located either inside or next to the parlors. A transaction fee was required to exchange the coins for cash.
“This was a large, complex illegal gambling operation, both online and in physical locations across several cities including Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Lakewood, Denver, Aurora, and Greeley,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek.
The release did not mention the names of other individuals involved in the case. Arvay’s sentencing is scheduled for December 12.
