Owen Hanson (Nicknamed O’Dog) seemed to have everything going for him, he was apparently brought up in a good home and eventually came to be part of the USC football team, however, Hanson’s greed apparently took over, and he became the leader of what was defined by the US Department of Justice as “a violent racketeering enterprise”.

Back in December 2017, Hanson was sentenced to 255 months in prison (21 years) and a lifetime of supervised release for leading an international drug trafficking, gambling and money laundering enterprise that operated in the United States, Central and South America and Australia from 2012 to 2016.

The press release given by the US Attorney’s office of the Southern District of California explains:

“According to court records, ODOG trafficked thousands of kilograms of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, MDMA (also known as “ecstasy”), marijuana, anabolic steroids and Human Growth Hormone (“HGH”). As Hanson admitted, ODOG’s drug operation routinely distributed controlled substances at wholesale and retail levels, including selling performing enhancing drugs to numerous professional. The organization also operated a vast illegal gambling operation focused on high-stakes wagers placed on sporting events. The Enterprise used threats and violence against its gambling and drug customers to force compliance. One particular victim who owed ODOG more than $2 million described in graphic detail at the hearing how Hanson sought to collect the debt by sending DVD’s to the victim and the victim’s wife showing beheadings, as well as a photo of victim’s desecrated family’s gravestone.”

In addition to Hanson, another 21 co-conspirators plead guilty.

Hanson, 35 year-of-age, ran a gambling operation betodog.com based in Central and South America, apparently one of his main operations was located in Costa Rica, authorities from the United States found an important number of bank transfers from Costa Rica to Mexico.

Part of his drug trafficking also went in and out of Canada, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, and even Australia and Italy, according to Hanson’s statements.

In addition to serving more than 21 years in prison, Hanson was also sentenced to pay a criminal forfeiture in the amount of $5 million, including $100,000 in gold and silver coins, a Porsche Panamera, two Range Rovers, luxury watches, homes in Costa Rica, Peru and Cabo San Lucas, a sailboat, and interests in several businesses.