The arrest of ex USC football player, a concert promoter, a weight training guru who was an ex-cage fighter, a private investigator based in Hollywood, a Sydney-based organized crime leader, and a gambling debt collector, was all instigated upon the discovery of a suitcase filled with $702,000 in a chain hotel in Sydney.

Another player in this alleged international drug trafficking and gambling ring is Robert “RJ” Cipriani or Robin Hood 702, a professional international gambler turned FBI informant, who habitually gave away his winnings to deprived families.

Cipriani is a star witness to the San Diego and Sydney prosecution of Owen Hanson and his associates. Hanson’s online gambling businesses have a string of bookies, runners and violent debt collectors. He is also into drug trafficking of cocaine, ecstasy and methamphetamine. The defense is naturally undermining Cipriani’s qualification as a witness as he himself has had his brushes with the law, but with the evidence gathered against Hanson’s ODOG Enterprises, Cipriani’s testimony may not be necessary.

Cipriani and Hanson Deal

 

As a high-rolling, professional gambler, Cipriani, aka Robin Hood 702, has always shared his winnings with the poor since 2008. Cipriani met Hanson in Australia in 2011 and readily gave Cipriani $1.5 million as gambling money. Cipriani thought Hanson was just bankrolling him so he gambled the money, took his winnings in casino check, gambled the money in Las Vegas, and then paid back Hanson in installments.

A few weeks after, Hanson asked Cipriani to do the same with $2.5 million. Cipriani took the money but recklessly lost all the money for he thought there was something off with the deal. Hanson confronted Cipriani at Star Casino but the latter said that he was with a Fox News reporter and therefore cannot discuss matters.

Hanson allowed Cipriani to leave only if he agrees to meet up at the Hilton Sydney. Cipriani went directly to the airport for a flight back to the USA but not before reporting to the hotel security that an armed man was in the hotel. The hotel security called the police and when they arrived, found the suitcase filled with $702,000.

Sean Carolan, a former Australian cage fighter, was in possession of the money. He said that the money was Hanson’s investment for his weight-loss program business. Andrew McManus, a concert promoter, claimed the money was his and was meant for paying back Hanson for fronting money for a recent concert tour.

Back in the United States

 

Cipriani was getting calls and text messages from Hanson as he clearly owned him $2.5 million. He was getting death threats through video clips. The death threats included Cipriani’s family and parents. He went to the FBI in Philadelphia and told his story. They did not believe him. A year or so after, he read that the Hanson’s partners in Peru were arrested. Cipriani called FBI in San Diego and told his story. The FBI agent connected the dots so a larger investigation commenced.

In San Diego, 22 people charged and 10 of them pleaded guilty. McManus pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Others who pleaded guilty are “Animal” Rissell and Kenny Hilinski. Derek Loville, ex NFL, has been accused of selling heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and meth as part of Hanson’s US-based group.

Owen Hanson has been in the custody of San Diego police since September 2015. The outcome of his January 10, 2017 court appearance is yet to be reported.