By Lookout Staff

April 29, 2025 -- A Santa Monica man on Tuesday pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business, money laundering and concealing more than $13 million in income from the IRS.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Christopher Scott King used a sports betting website based in Costa Rica "to facilitate bettors wagering on sporting events" in violation of state and federal law.

King also concealed $13,586,493 of income from the IRS between 2019 and 2022 "by, among other not reporting all of his income on his tax returns."

While King, for example, reported $143,258 in taxable income in his 2022 return, he in fact earned more than $5 million in income, Justice officials said.

"King laundered his money by channeling it through real estate development projects and gold" and used money from the gambling business "to fund his brokerage and financial accounts," U.S. Department officials said.

Under a plea agreement, King will pay $10 million in a personal money judgment of forfeiture when he is sentenced on September 9.

He faces 10 years in prison for money laundering and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of tax evasion, operating an illegal gambling operation and "accepting a financial instrument for unlawful internet gambling," authorities said.

In addition, King faces "a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties."

According to Justice officials, "A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

IRS Criminal Investigation’s International Tax and Financial Crimes group and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case, which is being prosecuted by trial attorneys with the Tax Division.