Connecticut Pair Charged with Using Stolen IDs in $3M Betting Fraud

Summary

Federal prosecutors in Connecticut have indicted two Glastonbury residents, Amitoj Kapoor and Siddharth Lillaney, on a 45-count indictment accusing them of a multi-year scam that exploited sign-up bonuses on licenced online betting sites. Authorities allege the scheme — begun in 2021 — used stolen personal data for roughly 3,000 people to create thousands of betting accounts and extract about $3 million in illicit winnings. The case includes charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering.

Key Points

Two men from Glastonbury, Connecticut — Amitoj Kapoor and Siddharth Lillaney — face a 45-count federal indictment.
Investigators allege the operation ran from 2021 for several years and involved personal details of ~3,000 people.
Stolen data (names, addresses, DoBs, Social Security numbers) was reportedly bought on darknet markets and shared via encrypted apps like Telegram.
Suspects allegedly created thousands of betting accounts to claim sign-up bonuses and converted bonus plays into withdrawable winnings; FanDuel is named as a primary target.
Prosecutors say funds were layered through virtual stored-value cards and multiple financial platforms to obscure their origin, then moved into bank and investment accounts controlled by the defendants.
Both defendants were indicted by a New Haven grand jury on 3 February 2026 and released on $300,000 bonds; convictions could carry substantial prison terms.

Content Summary

According to court documents, the pair used stolen identities to register accounts on licensed betting platforms, bypassing checks by using third-party background-check services to answer security questions. The scheme reportedly converted promotional credits into real-money wagers and then withdrew winnings via a chain of financial tools designed to conceal provenance.

Federal investigators widened a gaming-related probe into a major identity-theft and money-laundering case because of the number of alleged victims and the complex financial trails involved. Prosecutors say they’ll seek forfeiture of proceeds tied to the alleged fraud. As always, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

Context and Relevance

This story matters to operators, payments teams and compliance officers: it highlights persistent risks from stolen credentials, gaps in identity verification and how promo abuse can be monetised via modern payment rails. Regulators and platforms are likely to increase scrutiny of KYC processes, bonus controls and the use of virtual stored-value products following cases like this.

Why should I read this?

Because if you’re in the gambling world (or run payments/compliance), this is exactly the kind of creative fraud that can blow a hole in margins, damage customer trust and trigger regulatory headaches. It’s a neat example of how promos get weaponised — and how messy the money trail can be.

Author note

Punchy and to the point: federal chargers, large victim set (~3,000), $3m alleged haul, and a sophisticated laundering chain. If you care about promo abuse, KYC or regulatory risk, skim the details — then check your controls.