Kalistan

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Famous Yeudi Bookmaker Julian Levinson arrested in Sulari
Charged with racketeering, conspiracy, and attempting to flee prosecution
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
July 5 5692


Julian Levinson, Senior Associate of the Bookmakers' Association, under arrest in Sulari

The Sulari Special Investigations Division, who is charged with overseeing the investigation of Organized Crime in Sulari, has arrested Mr. Julian Levinson of Sulari. Levinson is a Senior Associate in the Kalistani Bookmakers Association: His position made him number 4 in the hierarchy of the syndicate, and has officially made him the highest ranking member of the Association to be arrested to date.

The Sulari Special Investigations Division Director, Captain Alberto Zarate said that Mr. Levinson's ties with organized crime have been under investigation for several years already. "Mr. Julian Levinson, who is known better by aliases 'Julie Books' and 'The Jeweler' to people within the Bookmakers Association, is believed to be a high level associate in Yeudi organized crime rings. He has been charged with racketeering, bet fixing, Conspiracy to defraud the Empire, and attempting to flee justice. Mr. Levinson was apprehended at Sulari International Airport where he held in his possession a one way ticket to Tel Bira by way of Likatonia and Luthori. It was clear that he was captured just in time."

Zarate said that Levinson's name was one of the names provided by the now deceased Karl Makiewicz. According to Zarate, Mankiewicz named Levinson as one of the people who arranged payment for the assassination attempt on Her Imperial Majesty's Justice Minister, which instead killed four innocent people, and seriously wounded ten pedestrians in downtown Sulari a year and a half ago. He was also identified by other witnesses who have turned informer, each of whom corroborated claims that Levinson had been fixing bets on horse races, sporting events, and casino games. Levinson denies all charges and proclaims his own innocence.

"My client is a hard working loyal Yeudi Citizen of this Empire," said Levinson's lawyer Christopher Johnson, of Sulari, who has defended several other high profile individuals in the past, and was sought because of his winning record in trial courts. "As a committed Hosian myself, I find this outrageous, how our Government treats these minorities like Mr. Levinson, as should all Hosians and Brethrenists in Kalistan. He was apprehended by an overbearing law enforcement apparatus which exceeds the Charter authority of the Free City, and his civil rights were repeatedly violated in the process, and now it seems like Sulari wishes to try Mr. Levinson in the press.

"But my client has rights and we demand they be respected," Johnson continued in his emotional and heavily slanted statement to the press on his client's behalf. "We call this harassment of my client and other Yeudis in Kalistan unconscionable, and we plead for the sense of justice of Her Highness, the Princess Regent: Please get this mad dog government in Sulari back on the leash before more of your Yeudi subjects are maliciously persecuted, just for being Yeudis." Johnson said Levinson was just travelling to Tel Bira to attempt to attract more Yeudi investment for Kalistani casinos: "To attack him for his industry and individual initiative is wild and outrageous. I thought this nation wasn't communist. I guess I was wrong!"

Zarate also stated that Levinson is affiliated with AYIC. "We know that Levinson himself has recently taken a seat on the AYIC board, is a major contributor to AYIC, and travelled with Mr. Jacob Maxwell and his wife on their much publicized trip to Tel Bira in 5689. He is in photo of the part at Kaliburg International with Maxwell, along with several other individuals who we believe are associated with organized crime in Sulari and in Port Swedes." Zarate said Sulari has said Maxwell is wanted for questioning about his connection to Levinson and others, and he has 48 hours to report to the police in Sulari to speak to Police or a warrant for his arrest will be issued.

The arrest of Levinson suggests a major break in the Bookmakers Probe that is about to enter its third year. Police have started referring to the Organized Crime operations as the "Yeudi Shtik." According to Zarate, the now deceased Karl Makiewicz talked extensively about the criminal organization that had employed him in terms of "Undzer Shtik" or "Our Thing" in Redn. Zarate said that the questioning of Mr. Levinson will likely yield additional links to and between organized criminal operations in Sulari, and if the investigation extends to Port Swedes, he will certainly be willing to help Swedeport set up their own Special Investigations Division structured like Sulari's. "We have been able to be very methodical in our investigation, utilizing our resources efficiently in our battle against these criminals, and despite many of our setbacks, we've had a lot of major successes, including the arrest today of Mr. Levinson as he was attempting to flee the country. Success builds upon success, and each day, the lives of the people of Sulari and the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan becomes safer and less corrupted by greed and violence."

@TheRepublic