Michael Lawrence "Scott" Brannon received a twelve-month probation sentence for operating the offshore sportsbook Tradewinds. The Costa Rica-based businessman pleaded guilty in February at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Financial Forfeiture and Business Restrictions
The court ordered six months of home confinement, with the remaining probation period to be served in Costa Rica. Brannon acknowledged directing and financing the gambling operation from August 2013 through April 23, 2021, alongside at least five associates. He admitted to receiving a minimum of $25,000,000 from the business and agreed to forfeit the entire sum. The payment schedule requires $7,000,000 shortly after sentencing, followed by three installments totaling $18,000,000 once home confinement concludes. The forfeiture extends to the Tradewinds domain trdwd.cc. Brannon’s probation officially begins on April 6, 2026. During this period, he is prohibited from owning, managing, consulting for, or participating in any gambling enterprise.Clarence "Gary" Austin entered a guilty plea in 2023 following a 2021 federal raid on his Florida residence. Austin received five years of probation with six months of home detention and surrendered assets including sixty-one one-kilogram gold bars, cryptocurrency holdings, investment funds, luxury vehicles, and three Florida properties.