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Hills and Dales man’s sentencing on federal gambling-related convictions delayed

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Hills and Dales man’s sentencing on federal gambling-related convictions delayed

A federal judge has delayed the sentencing of a Hills and Dales man convicted of multiple charges related to illegal storefront gambling operations.

U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent is now scheduled to sentence Christos Karasarides Jr.  on June 10, the same time co-defendant Ronald DiPietro will learn his punishment.

Karasarides’ attorney, Michael J. Goldberg, requested that the planned sentencing, which had been scheduled for Wednesday, be delayed in the interest of judicial economy, as many issues will apply to both defendants.

The motion to continue sentencing also said matters raised in the presentence investigation report require more than the average amount of review and research. Goldberg wrote that he had been engaged in a murder trial until the afternoon of April 23.

Government prosecutors did not object to the request.

Karasarides was convicted of tax evasion, gambling, money laundering, conspiracy and obstruction. DiPietro, a Green resident who had an office in Canton, a certified public accountant, was convicted of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, tax evasion and preparing false income tax returns for Karasarides. 

Both were convicted in a January trial in Cleveland, where they will also be sentenced.

They could be sent to prison for years. Both defendants stand to lose homes, cars and hundreds of thousands of dollars that jurors found to be proceeds of their crimes. 

The pair were among several Stark County residents charges after raids of 777 gaming operations in Canton, Canton Township and Plain Township in 2018.

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