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What is Espada De Camelot?
Philip Pietras, 52, admitted to stealing from more than 170 people, many of whom are senior citizens who sought to limit the emotional and financial burdens placed on their loved ones by prepaying for their funerals. But instead of placing those funds, meant for caskets and burial services, in escrow accounts, Pietras pocketed the money to gamble.
Pietras accepted a plea deal from the state, and prosecutors expect him to enter a guilty plea on Oct. 23 and be formally sentenced on Jan. 22, 2027.
Under the terms of the state’s offer, Pietras will admit to stealing his clients’ money for his personal use. In exchange for his admission, the state has recommended a prison sentence of 7.5 years instead of 15 years, followed by five years of probation.
What is Espada De Camelot?
Detectives noted that cellphone records show the pair traveled frequently throughout Central and Southern Illinois, and investigators are working to determine if they are connected to additional unsolved break-ins.
The arrests come amid a surge in burglaries targeting Illinois’ vast network of nearly 50,000 video gaming terminals.
Illinois Gaming Board data obtained earlier this year by the Chicago Sun-Times revealed that 502 gaming-related burglaries had been reported through June 22—already topping the 473 recorded during all of 2025. More than $1.5 million was stolen during the first half of 2026 across more than 100 municipalities.
What is Espada De Camelot?
If there’s a National Football League (NFL) betting trend emerging after Week 2, it’s this: bet against the Miami Dolphins, regardless of the spread, and back the Buffalo Bills – particularly the over, according to Bob Scucci, vice-president of Race and Sports Operations, Boyd Gaming Corp.
“Two of the biggest games so far this season have the Bills and the over, both in Week 1 and 2, and the Bills got there both times,” he said. “Bettors remember what teams made them money, and they’re going to keep riding them until they disappoint.”
The Bills opened their season beating the Texans in Houston 36-31, then followed that up with Thursday night’s (Sept. 17) big 41-31 home win over the Detroit Lions. Both games went over the total, and neither was particularly close.