'We know where you live': convicted criminal allegedly ran brutal gambling empire from behind bars

An indictment has been filed against 10 defendants, including convicted criminal Assaf Buskila, for allegedly operating a brutal gambling, lending, and protection network from within Shata Prison. Buskila, serving an eight-year sentence for attempted murder, allegedly directed the operation using a public telephone, with the help of associates Adir Ben Hamo and Meir Amar. The network, which operated for four years and handled approximately NIS 3 million, included an online gambling site (50BET) and an apartment where a roulette wheel was reportedly manipulated.

• Debtors and gamblers who accumulated debt faced severe threats and violence.
• In one instance, a debtor named Ze’ev, owing NIS 100,000, was allegedly attacked by a German shepherd named Max, sustaining severe injuries to his arms and legs.
• Buskila reportedly made personal threats to debtors, including telling one inmate, Shimon, “Don’t make me step on your face. Don’t worry, I’ll see what we can do with your parents.”
• Another debtor was allegedly threatened with, “We know where you live. We’ll come to your village and get you.”

The central defendants face charges including extortion by force, aggravated assault, and money laundering, with prosecutors describing extortion as a nationwide scourge.