Brooklyn Park Woman Charged in $260K Online Gambling Scheme

Apr 13

A Brooklyn Park woman is facing felony charges after allegedly running an illegal online gambling operation out of her home using livestreams, CashApp and Venmo.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County this week, Jamie Sue Morrow-Castizo, 39, is charged with possessing and transporting unstamped gambling devices including pull-tabs and raffle boards.

The charges each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

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Detectives with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Morrow-Castizo in March 2024 after receiving a tip about a Facebook user named “Jamie Morrow” who was allegedly hosting gambling events via livestream, the court documents said.

One video, posted on April 10, 2024, showed only the host’s hands manipulating pull-tabs and bingo cards, with users engaging in real-time through posted comments. The woman’s hands displayed distinctive tattoos, which detectives later used to identify her as Morrow-Castizo.

Authorities obtained search warrants for her Facebook, Venmo and CashApp accounts. Between Feb. 2023 and May 2024, Morrow-Castizo allegedly processed thousands of gambling-related transactions. Investigators say her Venmo account recorded over 2,100 deposits totaling nearly $170,000, while her CashApp received more than 1,800 deposits worth over $90,000. The complaint says the money was used to accept bets and pay out winnings, often disguised with emojis like gift boxes, clovers or money bags.

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In addition to the financial records, the search warrants uncovered 19 Facebook Live videos showing gambling activity and numerous posts promoting upcoming events. When investigators executed a search warrant at her home on 76th Avenue North in Brooklyn Park, they found a livestreaming setup and a large quantity of gambling devices, including 149 unique pull-tab, tipboard games and 12 bingo card sets. None of the recovered materials were stamped or barcoded, which is required by state law.

Forensic searches of her electronic devices also revealed photos of gambling games and hundreds of text messages referencing betting activity. In one group text, Morrow-Castizo allegedly wrote, “Bingos for tonight” and “Marathon 4 winners,” followed by lists of participant names.

During the search, Morrow-Castizo told detectives she was unaware that online pull-tabs were illegal and said she didn’t want to answer any more questions without a lawyer. She has been summoned to appear in court next month and has not yet been booked into jail.

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