Australian sports betting syndicate Worldwide Sporting Investments (WSI) has been pushed into liquidation, with owner Tyler Roberts owing investors more than AU$2 million. The company’s downfall occurs months after an alleged kidnapping of Roberts by the Alameddine crime network, a group of disgruntled investors.
Roberts launched WSI in 2023 using funding from the Alameddine family. He reportedly met members of the criminal network that January and secured a AU$3.1 million investment for the venture.
The syndicate placed online bets via Bet365, with Roberts claiming it “identifies wagers that are inaccurately priced in the books.” He also asserts turning AU$2,000 into AU$45,000 through bets on the platform over seven days.
However, the syndicate has recently faced difficulties. The Daily Telegraph reported it owes significant sums to multiple creditors.
Among those identified are David Baldwin, owed nearly AU$800,000; Ryan Mark Strauss, owed over AU$400,000; and Corey Van Genderan, who applied for the company’s liquidation due to his AU$56,000 debt.
Liquidators also noted contact from “several unsecured creditors” beyond those named, who claimed unpaid debts exceeding AU$871,000. Authorities are evaluating if the company holds additional assets to cover its obligations.
Currently, Roberts does not face criminal charges. In the UK, the collapse of another betting syndicate led to the arrest of Rory Campbell, son of former UK spin doctor Alastair Campbell.
Crime Family Threatened to Cut Fingers Off
It remains unclear if the Alameddine family is among those owed money. The gang, led by Rafat Alameddine, is alleged to be one of Sydney’s largest drug-trafficking organizations. New South Wales Police stated the group generated around AU$1 million in weekly profit at its peak.
In April last year, seven men linked to the Alameddine group allegedly kidnapped Roberts and his girlfriend, Mariah Dawn Burr-McLean.
The men demanded Roberts repay AU$2.5 million owed to the group. He claims his former business partner, Lewis Jones, absconded with the funds.
Police allege two associates of the family, Anthony Khalil and Aaron “H” John McCann, threatened to sever Roberts’ fingers if he failed to pay.
“They kept saying I was lucky Mariah was there, otherwise things would have gone differently,” Roberts stated in a court-filed witness statement. “I believe this was a threat to kill me.”
Couple Frantically Pleaded for Cash
The couple reached out to about 20 family and friends in a bid to secure cash, with Roberts asking his stepmother to use her home as collateral, though they failed to obtain funds.
In a message to Roberts’ father, Tim, his girlfriend wrote, “Need to raise $400k before they’ll let us leave … we have to stay until Tyler gets the money; we’re safe if we do … Honestly, the only reason Tyler isn’t being tortured is because I’m here. I’m truly terrified.”
Burr-McLean does not claim she was kidnapped or extorted, stating she went voluntarily to support her boyfriend.
Matthew Hynes, a lawyer representing one defendant, Joel Batour-Pullin, told the Supreme Court that Roberts’ police claims were “bizarre and implausible,” adding he lied and later tried to retract his statement.
Kidnappers Ordered Gnocchi for Hostages
It also emerged that the gang ordered gnocchi for the couple. Messages showed Burr-McLean asked the kidnappers to order wild mushroom and truffle sauce gnocchi, along with Napoli sugo gnocchi, from Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers in Maroochydore.
A text from a kidnapper encouraged them to order appetizers. As reported by The Courier Mail, the message read, “Your (SIC) a guest this is how I am. Please if you feel like anything else any entrees and whatever drinks”.
Hynes cited this as evidence Roberts’ account is inconsistent. He said, “They were so eager to recover their $2.4m investment in the complainant’s company … that they traveled to Queensland and bought the complainant and his partner gnocchi.”
Minutes after the gnocchi-related texts, armed police raided the apartment and arrested two men. The remaining five were later detained at a separate location.