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US-detained mafioso boxer Avtandil Khurtsidze refused bail
Avtandil Khurtsidze Faces 40 Years, Racketeeing Trial Begins
Last year, middleweight contender Avtandil Khurtsidze (33-2-2, 22
KOs) was on the verge of a mandatory world title shot, when he knocked
out Tommy Langford in April to secure a crack at WBO world champion
Billy Joe Saunders.
But before he was able to get his hands on Saunders, the hard punching Khurtsidze, 39-years-old, was arrested as a part of a RICO prosecution - with allegations that he worked as an "enforcer" to Brooklyn mob boss Razhden Shulaya.
On Monday, the boxer's racketeering trial began.
![press conference-0008 [khurtsidze] (720x480)](https://photo.boxingscene.com/uploads/press%20conference-0008%20%5Bkhurtsidze%5D%20(720x480).jpg)
Khurtsidze has been in federal lockup since his arrest and faces as a much as 40 years if convicted.
“Shulaya acted as the boss and Khurtsidze acted as his solider,” prosecutor Andrew Thomas told the jury, according to the New York Post.
Khurtsidze’s lawyer, Megan Benett, said the two men knew each other from their days in post-Soviet Georgia and that they “socialized together” — but they were not associates in a criminal organization.
But the video evidence may create some issues for Khurtsidze.
The prosecutors indicated to the jury, that several videos in their possession will show the boxer threatening or assaulting people on behalf of Shulaya.
In one video, as BoxingScene.com reported last year, Khurtsidze is seen punching a man directly in the face after he is accused of stealing money from a Brighton Beach poker ring Shulaya allegedly ran. Shulaya then slaps to the man’s face and tell him he had better pay up or suffer the consequences.
“You will hear threat after threat after threat,” Thomas said of Khurtsidze.
The organization, which Khurtsidze is alleged to have been a part of, is being accused of running several illegal operations - including the buying and selling untaxed cigarettes, running an illegal poker ring that cheated its players and hacking the code on slot machine software so that members of the organization could rig the winnings.
But before he was able to get his hands on Saunders, the hard punching Khurtsidze, 39-years-old, was arrested as a part of a RICO prosecution - with allegations that he worked as an "enforcer" to Brooklyn mob boss Razhden Shulaya.
On Monday, the boxer's racketeering trial began.
Khurtsidze has been in federal lockup since his arrest and faces as a much as 40 years if convicted.
“Shulaya acted as the boss and Khurtsidze acted as his solider,” prosecutor Andrew Thomas told the jury, according to the New York Post.
Khurtsidze’s lawyer, Megan Benett, said the two men knew each other from their days in post-Soviet Georgia and that they “socialized together” — but they were not associates in a criminal organization.
But the video evidence may create some issues for Khurtsidze.
The prosecutors indicated to the jury, that several videos in their possession will show the boxer threatening or assaulting people on behalf of Shulaya.
In one video, as BoxingScene.com reported last year, Khurtsidze is seen punching a man directly in the face after he is accused of stealing money from a Brighton Beach poker ring Shulaya allegedly ran. Shulaya then slaps to the man’s face and tell him he had better pay up or suffer the consequences.
“You will hear threat after threat after threat,” Thomas said of Khurtsidze.
The organization, which Khurtsidze is alleged to have been a part of, is being accused of running several illegal operations - including the buying and selling untaxed cigarettes, running an illegal poker ring that cheated its players and hacking the code on slot machine software so that members of the organization could rig the winnings.
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Avtandil Khurtsidze
WBO world boxing champ Avtandil Khurtsidze arrested by US over connections with Russian mafia
Georgian boxer Avtandil Khurtsidze, who was to compete for the WBO middleweight title against British Billy Joe Saunders on July 8, was arrested. He is suspected of having links with the criminal group of thief in law Raden Shulaya, known in the criminal world under the nicknames Razhden Pitersky, Roma and Brat.
As reported by the portal Boxing News referring to promoter of the battle Frank Warren, Khurtsidze was among the 33 alleged members of the organized crime group, 23 of whom were detained by the police of New York.
Earlier, the CrimeRussia quoted the official report of the US Justice Department, which published a list of detainees. Avtandil Khurtsidze was the 18th number.
Another five members of the OCG are currently on the wanted list. They are Mamuka Chaganava, Semyon Saraidarov (Sammy), Irakli Kereselidze, Georgy Lomishvili and Denis Savgir. Another, Timur Suyunov, is already serving time in a federal prison for another crime.
"Under such circumstances, Khurtsidze's fight with Saunders, scheduled for July 8, can not be held on the appointed day. Promoter of the Georgian boxer Lu DiBella said that he will not be able to come to this moment," Warren said. He added that the issue of adjourning the fight is now being considered.
Khurtsidze himself hastened in his Facebook account to report that the incident is a big mistake, and he himself is not guilty of anything.
Recall that all members of the organized crime group have already been charged with a number of crimes ranging from smuggling cigarettes, stealing goods, including 10.000 pounds (4.5 tons) of chocolate and confectionery, drug possession, racketeering, selling stolen and giving bribes to the organization of illegal gambling, storage and sale of weapons, looting, drug trafficking and contract killings.
Source: https://en.crimerussia.com/criminalauthorities/future-wbo-champion-arrested-for-relationship-with-razhden-pitersky-ocg/
Khurtsidze, 38, is charged with conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO, as well as conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Each felony charge carries up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
Khurtsidze (33-2-2, 22 KOs) won a vacant interim middleweight belt by knocking out Tommy Langford in the fifth round on April 22 in Leicester, England. That set the stage for the mandatory bout with England's Saunders (24-0, 12 KOs), who was ringside.
Now Saunders is waiting for the WBO to determine the mandatory challenger, leaving him in limbo and not fighting on July 8.
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