Raids of 2 Restaurants, Home in Northwest Indiana Tied to Illegal Online Gaming Operation, Court Documents Show
Federal agents searched multiple businesses in a multi-agency probe, and the FBI said it cannot provide more details because the investigation is active.
- On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, FBI agents raided Gino's Steakhouse in Merrillville and the Paragon Restaurant in Hobart as part of a large-scale, multi-agency investigation into illegal gambling operations.
- The operation targets an illegal sports betting and extortion ring allegedly masterminded by Schererville restaurateur James 'Jimmy the Greek' Gerodemos, according to a recently unsealed federal indictment.
- FBI and IRS agents, supported by Indiana State Police, seized computers and boxes of materials from the restaurants and a home in Schererville during the coordinated raids.
- Gerodemos and 22 others face gambling charges; the restaurateur previously served six months in federal prison in 2014 for an illegal fireworks case involving 4,000 pounds of TNT.
- Authorities have not disclosed further details about the ongoing investigation, though an FBI spokesperson confirmed there is "no known threat to the public" connected to the operation.
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17 Articles
Chicago Sun Times
Feds arrest 22 tied to illegal sports betting ring in Northwest Indiana
Federal prosecutors announced charges Thursday against 22 people in connection with an illegal online sports betting ring in Northwest Indiana.According to an 87-page indictment, James “Jimmy the Greek” Gerodemos and Dean “Dean Gem” Gialamas ran the Gerodemos Gambling Organization from January 2021 to April 2026 and allegedly used extortionate means to collect gambling debts and laundered the money.Prosecutors said law enforcement agencies had s…
Raids of 2 restaurants, home in Northwest Indiana tied to illegal online gaming operation, court documents show
Federal agents from the FBI, Customs and Border Protection and the IRS were at two restaurants and a home in Northwest Indiana, removing boxes and hard drives as part of an investigation.
Hanford Sentinel
Feds indict 22 in ‘Greek’-led gambling ring centered on two Indiana restaurants
Federal prosecutors indicted 22 people earlier this month in a wide-ranging gambling and extortion ring operating out of Gino’s Steakhouse in Merrillville, Indiana, and Paragon in Hobart, Indiana. Those indicted by the grand jury include members of the Gerodemos family…
abc 7 Chicago
ABC57FBI, IRS agents raid home, restaurants in Northwest Indiana; indictment alleges gambling operation
Federal agents were seen conducting multiple investigations at a home and businesses in Northwest Indiana. An indictment accuses two business owners of leading a gambling operation out of their restaurants and threatening multiple victims who couldn't pay off debts.
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