An Odesa court has sentenced a participant in a money-laundering scheme that processed tens of millions for illegal online casinos and betting platforms. Officially employed as a water delivery driver, the defendant helped route over 32 million UAH through an underground payment hub.
The Kyivskyi District Court of Odesa has issued a ruling against local resident Illya Mysaka. He was found guilty of organizing illegal gambling operations (Part 2, Art. 203-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and laundering proceeds obtained through crime (Part 3, Art. 209). Despite the large-scale financial fraud, the defendant avoided prison time by entering into a plea bargain and transferring 1 million UAH to support the National Guard of Ukraine.
According to law enforcement, between June and November 2024, Mysaka acted in collusion with an organizer whose case has been separated into a standalone proceeding. Mysaka personally managed a covert office in Odesa operating under the codename «LAKERS.» The clandestine hub operated around the clock in day and night shifts.
The primary task of the operators was to facilitate card-to-card (P2P) transfers for accepting bets and paying out winnings to players on illegal online gambling platforms. Over five months, more than 32.3 million UAH was processed and laundered through bank accounts controlled by the group.
“The defendant fully pled guilty, assisted in solving the crime, and agreed to enter into a plea bargain with the prosecutor,” the court documents state.
Following his arrest and the seizure of digital equipment, cash, and a luxury vehicle, Mysaka cooperated with investigators. A plea bargain was officially signed between the prosecutor and the defendant in April 2026.
Under the terms of the court ruling, the defendant’s punishment was limited to financial penalties:
1,000,000 UAH was voluntarily transferred by the defendant to support the 13th «Khartia» Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine (Unit 3102);
408,000 UAH was imposed as a state fine.
However, direct financial damages to the state resulting from unpaid taxes were not compensated. The court also lifted the seizure order, ruling to return all assets confiscated during searches to their owners—including a 2018 Porsche Cayenne, $7,000 in cash, and high-end Apple hardware (such as a MacBook Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and iPhone 15 Pro Max).
According to official records, Illya Mysaka was formally employed as a driver for a water delivery service. Simultaneously, he operates as a registered sole proprietor (FEA) specializing in real estate rentals and holds a co-ownership stake in the Kropyvnytskyi-based company «Waste Service» alongside partner Andriy Dondes.
Criminal proceedings regarding the primary mastermind behind the illegal P2P operation remain ongoing under a separate case.