After Andrew Nguyen was implicated in an alleged illegal gambling operation in Northwest Indiana, a court prohibited him from gambling as a release condition. Nguyen’s lawyer argued for his return to video poker by revealing his victimhood in extortion related to the case. The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, Adam Mildred, announced these charges at a press conference in Hammond, Indiana on April 30, 2026.
The federal grand jury issued a 28-count indictment against 22 people accused of operating an illegal gambling ring from two Northwest Indiana restaurants. The charges include conspiracy and using extortion for debt collection. Key figures named in the indictment include James “Jimmy the Greek” Gerodemos and Dean “Dean Gem” Gialamas, alleged leaders of the gambling network.
Nguyen was identified in court documents as Victim 3, who reportedly owed $7,500. His alleged participation involved introducing people interested in betting. Nguyen allegedly received threats from Gerodemos to recover debts.
Prosecutors hinted at filing a superseding RICO indictment, focusing efforts on Gialamas. He was arrested in Puerto Rico and released but is considered a flight risk. Allegations against Gialamas include recruiting for extortion and possessing over $8 million in unexplained assets. His defense team has requested more time to respond.
Gialamas and co-defendant Alexander Gagianas face a bond hearing set for June 3. Authorities accused Gialamas of holding individuals accountable for others’ gambling debts, notably in an incident involving a missing gambler who had lost $488,000. Gialamas allegedly leveraged a jailed associate to pressure debt collection.
A witness, known as Victim 1, reported intimidation attempts at his business by unknown individuals seeking payment. Gialamas denied orchestrating these visits, claiming only to want his money back.
Further evidence was obtained from Gialamas’ iCloud and secret recordings, reinforcing the case against him. Prosecutors underscored the seriousness by citing wiretapped conversations where Gialamas permitted aggressive tactics against defaulters.
Another defendant, Basam Ibrahim, seeks release from custody with his attorney filing for a hearing. The government opposes this move.