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

February 27th, 2020 · by mdudley · Slots



A Canadian priest in Ontario has admitted to losing significantly more than CDN$500,000 (US$386,000) in charitable funds that were supposed to assist Iraqi refugees seeking asylum into the eastern Canadian province.

Canadian priest Amer Saka gambled away more than $380,000 in funds raised that were allowed to be utilized to aid Iraq refugees. No charges are filed against the Ontario man of the fabric.

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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 to the century that is 1st though Saka’s parish in London, Ontario was launched 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 now been utilized for that function,’ Shaleta told the Toronto Star. ‘I was called by hi . . . and said he destroyed all the cash.’

Unholy Happenings

The roughly $386,000 had been deposited into an account entrusted to Saka by families belonging to St. Joseph’s. The finances were allowed to be safeguarded by the church and used to assist refugees that are incoming Iraq.

The Chaldean refugee sponsorship program requires donors to support migrants for a minimum of one 12 months after they arrive in Canada.

‘They would not give this money as a donation with regards to their church,’ Shaleta stated. ‘They trusted him, this money wasn’t for him. It would be to get back again to the refugees [once they arrived here].’

It is unclear what Saka’s game of choice was in the casino, or which venue or venues he frequented.

Regardless, it’s still another black eye on the ghostbusters slots free Catholic Church, as the religion continues to be dealing with persistent claims of sexual abuse within its company. Just 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 40-year period.

No charges that are formal been levied on Saka, but an investigation by the London Police Service is ongoing. Saka has since checked in to the Southdown Institute, an Ontario addiction and health that is mental center for clergy members.

Are Church Donations Safe?

While Saka tries to overcome his gambling addiction, parishes across the country might want to take a closer look at their bank accounts, since the St. Joseph incident could be miniscule should additional priests try their hand during the casino with money that isn’t theirs.

In February, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCBC) announced a campaign that is joint the Canadian Catholic Organization for developing and Peace, help towards the Church in Need Canada, and the Catholic Near East Welfare Association Canada, by 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 guard the donations while making sure they reach refugees is unclear.

With regard to the donors and refugees, we can 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 permitted to take part in gambling activities, particularly with parishioner monies, but to reinforce that idea, Shaleta explained that ‘it’s contrary to the rules’ of the Catholic priesthood.

Washington, D.C. Always a Political Gamble, But Could a casino that is actual to Nation’s Capital?

Washington, D.C., is a powerhouse of intrigue, bluffs, and gambles, but that reality could 1 day expand to an actual casino that is land-based the District, in case a team funded by the anonymous corporation in Delaware get its way.

Perhaps not the many location that is glamorous pull tourists to, but backers of a Washington, D.C., casino are pressing an initiative in hopes of revitalizing the poor and crime-ridden (but historic) Anacostia neighborhood. (Image: elevationdcmedia.com)

A group referred to as the Citizens Committee in Support of 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 decide 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 region of Anacostia, named for the river located to its east.

The region had been initially a stronghold of this Nacochtank Indian tribe, who were forced out by Colonial settlers as far back as 1608, whenever Captain John Smith of Pocahontas popularity moved through. Fast-forward 400 years, and also the wampum that is latest can be in the proper execution of casino chips to boost the area’s coffers and job options.

‘It’s about job training, real jobs, new income for the city, plus an elevated, regulated gaming experience for visitors,’ Jerrels told WAMU 88.5, the initial socket to report in the casino developments. ‘Our objective is 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 reality is that few sightseers venture throughout the Anacostia River away from the downtown nationwide Mall area.

A DC-based commercial realtor told us that the Anacostia neighborhood is certainly one associated with city’s poorest, and home to a good amount of crime and drug activity.

According to data compiled from the US Census Bureau and FBI Uniform Crime Reports, Anacostia features a 207 percent higher crime price than the average that is national and a resident regarding the area includes a one in 11 possibility of becoming a victim of a nasty crime.

Local residents also never appear too thrilled about bringing casino gambling towards the community.

‘It just appears to me personally that the intersection that has name that is such nearly as good Hope and MLK . . . [it does not make sense] that you’d decimate that boulevard with some gambling facility,’ Anacostia Economic Development Corporation President Stanley Jackson stated.

Many Obstacles to Overcome

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 scheduled for might 4. if the board do so, Jerrels would then nevertheless need to collect 25,000 signatures to place the initiative on the ballot.

Another problem standing in his way lies with the background of their reported financial backer, US Virgin Islands-based gambling businessman Shawn Scott.

According to filings that are legal by Jerrels, Anacostia Redevelopment, an LLC registered in Delaware, is bankrolling the gaming push. Jerrels and Scott were also in paired up in 2006 to legalize movie slot machines at the Anacostia that is same location but that measure failed.

Scott has a past that is checkered it comes down to your video gaming industry, though. He’s been denied licenses in several states, and ended up being slapped with a $600,000 fine for forging signatures in 2004.

Though Jerrels’ and Scott’s past attempts failed, one asset for his or her campaign this time around could be the MGM nationwide Harbor, which is planned to start in the 2nd half of 2016. Seven miles due south of Anacostia, maybe it’s a compelling attempting to sell point that so long as video gaming is coming to your area anyway, it might create sense to keep those profits within city limits.

But the price of bringing gambling to the populous city does not, at the minute, have actually widespread help. Gambling the traditional method has been illegal into the country’s capital for many years, and it doesn’t appear that will be changing anytime soon.

Phil Mickelson Gambling Pal Gregory Silveira Withdraws Guilty Plea in Money Laundering Case

Golfer Phil Mickelson refuses to comment about any potential involvement in the money laundering case against ex-handicapper Gregory Silveira. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)

Gambler Gregory Silveira, proven to have ties to golfer (and gambler) Phil Mickelson, has been facing costs of money laundering in a l . a . court. Nevertheless now Silveriera, who had formerly plead guilty to your fees, wants to alter his plea never to.

The 56-year-old former activities 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 identified by ESPN as Mickelson, and an illegal offshore sports guide.

Mickelson, who’s recognized to have a fondness for gambling, is maybe not named in court documents or accused of any crime.

In March 2010, according to court documents, Silveira received a wire transfer of $2.75 million from your client into his bank that is own account. He then transferred $2.475 million, as well as the remaining $275,000, into two bank that is separate, both in his name.

PM Me

Based on ESPN’s Outside the Lines (OTL), a show that focuses on American sports issues ‘both on and off the field,’ an earlier variation of Silveira’s plea agreement contained a reference to ‘money laundering of funds from P.M.’ When OTL inquired about the initials, the prosecution had the document stricken from the records, filing an amended variation the day that is next.

But now Silveira wants to withdraw their guilty plea, claiming that he was simply seeking to safeguard ‘an person who did 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 had been ‘tainted’ and that Silveira’s transfer of the funds constituted money laundering. These suggestions was incorrect.’

Duff adds within the court filing that the amount of money was not ‘tainted’ and that Silveira was merely paying down a friend’s ‘gambling financial obligation with lawfully earned money.’

No (Sensical) Comment

Mickelson, meanwhile, refused (via their counsel) to supply an official statement on the instance, although when confronted on it all about it directly by a journalist at last year’s Scottish Open, he offered the following rather oblique comment.

‘People are going to say things good; they will state things bad; they go to state things real; they go to express things not true,’ he stated. ‘The reality is, I’m comfortable enough with whom I am as someone like I have to discuss every little report that comes out. that I don’t feel’

Mickelson is famously known for betting large on the Super Bowl, as well as in 2001 was reprimanded by the PGA for wagering on the results of A tiger woods shot at the NEC Invitational, in breach of the association’s strict policy that is anti-gambling.

More recently, in January, he chastised 17-year-old pro that is australian Ruffles for publicly disclosing the details of a bet the 2 had made while sparring on the program. According to Ruffles, Mickelson offered him 2:1 for a $2,500 bet that the game would be won by him, but Mickelson lost by one shot. a disgruntled mickelson later said that the sum had 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 managing the Glendale facility won its lawsuit against hawaii to offer Class III games. (Image: foxcarolina.com)

An Arizona tribe received the blessing for the US that is 9th Circuit of Appeals this week to expand its Glendale casino to include Class III gaming and combine slots and table games. In a lawsuit between the Tohono O’odham country 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 always have the appropriate directly to operate a casino on land that wasn’t under their ownership whenever Indian community reached its gaming compact with Arizona in 2002.

In a unanimous decision, the 9th Circuit Court rejected the state’s arguments and ruled, ‘The Tohono O’odham Nation’s intend to create a casino and conduct Class III video gaming on a certain parcel of land did not break a gaming compact between the country as well as the State of Arizona. The Compact expressly authorizes Class III gaming ( dining table card games and slots) on the ‘Indian Lands’ of the Nation.’

Decision Best For Western Valley

Located lower than 20 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix, the Desert Diamond West Valley Casino opened December that is last under scrutiny.

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian and Gila River Indian communities opposed the resort due to their own self-interests, as the two tribes run casinos in the Phoenix regions of Chandler and Scottsdale.

After court that is numerous, the Tohono Nation was permitted to move forward with its Glendale resort.

Up to now, the western Valley venue has only been permitted to offer Class II games. The classification is defined by the Arizona Department of Gaming as being ‘limited to games or gambling devices in line with the game of bingo, and cards in which players play just against one another, and the house cannot win.’

The lack of slots as well as other popular commercial casino games has generated the West Valley Casino being panned by visitors. Bringing Class III variants to the casino floor should revitalize fascination with the facility, and, in turn, generate more revenues that are substantial.

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