A man pleaded guilty in federal court April 28 for his involvement in a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling ring in the Ozarks, according to a media release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Missouri.
Rahulkumar D. Patel, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Patel is an Indian national who lives in Washington.
In the plea, Patel admitted that he and his co-conspirators made more than $7.5 million in proceeds from the wire fraud scheme and illegal gambling businesses, then “conducted various financial transactions for the purpose of laundering the proceeds,” according to the release.
There were four locations in Springfield that Patel and his co-conspirators operated: Big Win Arcade No. 1 at 1928 S. Glenstone Ave., Big Win Arcade No. 2 at 1135 E. Commercial St., Spin Hitters at 838-840 S. Glenstone Ave., and Vegas Arcade at 615 S. Scenic Ave. The businesses were registered under the guise of adult arcades and included illegal chance games and slot machines. They also operated a location in Branson West and one in Joplin.
Tad Peters, a major with the Springfield Police Department involved with the investigation, said during the July 2025 press conference that the establishments attracted criminal activity. He said that once the illegal game rooms were shuttered, criminal activity diminished.
“These were businesses that were basically operating as casinos, and they were affecting the quality of life of their neighbors in those areas of our community,” said Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson at the July 2025 press conference. “I believe we have seen a change since this investigation took place.”
Last July, a federal grand jury delivered a 72-count indictment that accused nine people of operating illegal gambling rooms and money laundering in southwest Missouri since 2022. There were nine defendants — including Patel — who resided in several other states, such as Colorado, Georgia, New York, Louisiana and Pennsylvania.
All were charged with participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and operating illegal gambling businesses. All defendants also were charged with at least one count of wire fraud and eight were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Patel is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, up to 5 years in prison for conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and up to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
