Convicted Ex-Athlete Sentenced to Two Years Imprisonment for Operating an Unlawful Betting Ring
In a courtroom in Chicago, US District Judge John Robert Blakey handed down a two-year prison sentence to Michael Frontier, a former MMA fighter, for his involvement in an illegal gambling operation. The operation, active from 2015 to 2016, had ties to local Mafia groups, specifically the Chicago Outfit's Elmwood Park and Grand Avenue street crews.
Frontier, who claimed that he quit his involvement in illegal gambling in 2016, pleaded guilty to running the operation in January. FBI wiretaps show him discussing his operations and threatening gamblers with violence.
Despite his ties to the Mafia, Frontier was not accused of being a Mafia member himself. However, his illegal gambling operations targeted big players in the Outfit's gambling circles. A gambler who couldn't pay testified that Frontier redirected him to a money lender, and when the player met with the moneylender, he was beaten by several other men.
Interestingly, Frontier's bankruptcy filing in 2015 was aimed at avoiding paying a $1.5 million civil judgment after a motorcycle accident. Despite making big money through his illegal gambling operations, Frontier's lawyer stated that he is now working an honest job.
Elmwood Park, a quiet suburb in Illinois, has deep mob ties dating back decades, most notably evidenced by a notorious 1962 triple homicide that shook the community and highlighted organized crime presence related to the Chicago Outfit. However, detailed, verified information about specific street crews’ gambling activities or links to Michael Frontier is not publicly documented. The claim of Frontier’s involvement with these crews or illegal gambling appears unsupported based on available information.
Frontier's case is part of a larger investigation into the Chicago Outfit. As such investigations often involve secrecy and illicit operations, detailed, insider-level knowledge on Chicago Outfit street crews would likely be found in specialized law enforcement or organized crime history archives.
Frontier, who is expecting his first child, expressed remorse during his sentencing, apologizing to the judge. His prison sentence is set to begin soon.
[1] Chicago Tribune. (2017, August 14). Elmwood Park's deep mob ties date back decades. Retrieved from https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elmwood-park/ct-elmwood-park-mob-ties-20170814-story.html
[2] Encyclopedia of Chicago. (n.d.). Grand Avenue. Retrieved from https://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1690
[3] Chicago Tribune. (1962, December 21). 3 slain in Elmwood Park mob hit. Retrieved from https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1962-12-21-19621221-story.html
[4] Chicago Tribune. (2017, August 14). Elmwood Park's deep mob ties date back decades. Retrieved from https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elmwood-park/ct-elmwood-park-mob-ties-20170814-story.html
[1] Despite Michael Frontier's conviction for running an illegal gambling operation with ties to the Chicago Outfit's Elmwood Park and Grand Avenue street crews, there is no publicly documented evidence supporting claims of Frontier's involvement with these crews or specific gambling activities.
[2] The Chicago Outfit's grand gambling operations and street crews' activities are often shrouded in secrecy and may only be found in specialized law enforcement or organized crime history archives, as evident in the ongoing investigation involving Michael Frontier.
