MIAMI— A federal magistrate judge has unsealed an 18-count superseding indictment charging West Palm Beach, Fla., resident Dion De Cesare, 52, and five others with operating an illegal sports gambling business, conspiracy to use cellular telephones to carry out gambling and prostitution activities, conspiracy and substantive money laundering, and evading taxes.
The superseding indictment alleges that from around April 2008 and continuing to around November 2022, De Cesare and his front company, HERE LLC, used two commercial establishments, Whispers All Girls Staff and NXT, both of which provided an array of prostitution services to customers.
In addition, from May 2015 through September 2021, De Cesare allegedly conspired with others, including his co-defendants Josh Peasley, 62, of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Kelly Lizza, 41, of West Palm Beach, to operate a sports gambling business through dldsportsbook.com, a website out of Costa Rica where wagers on sporting events take place.
The superseding indictment also alleges that from 2011 to 2017, De Cesare owned Renegades, a restaurant and nightclub in West Palm Beach where between 2011 and 2013, and 2015 to 2016, he and his business partner failed to pay personal and payroll taxes which resulted in a substantial amount of tax debt due.
De Cesare allegedly conspired with Peasley, Lizza, and co-defendants Aundrey Aarons, 41, and Mark Paolantonio, 62, both of West Palm Beach, to launder his gambling proceeds by having gamblers who owed him money pay through third party entities and individuals. Nine West Palm Beach properties and one vehicle are subject to criminal forfeiture according to the superseding indictment.
De Cesare faces up to 50 years in prison for gambling, prostitution and money laundering. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is a charging instrument containing allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; acting Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Buckley, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office; Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO); and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
HSI, West Palm Beach Office; IRS-CI, Miami Field Office; and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dispoto and Trial Attorney Francesca Bartolomey from the Tax Division at the Department of Justice are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter Laserna and William Zloch are handling asset forfeiture.
You may find related court documents and information on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.