'Big Rob' Gorodetsky, Northbrook Sports Gambler, Sentenced to 28 Months for $9.6 Million Day-Trading and Betting Fraud

Case from 2020–2021 (U.S. Attorney's Office release: Feb. 5, 2020; later developments are from court records and other sources cited below). Published on Scammers.com Oct. 16, 2026; case status is current as of that date.

Robert Gorodetsky of Northbrook, Illinois, who built an Instagram persona as high-rolling Las Vegas sports bettor "Big Rob," was sentenced on April 29, 2021, to 28 months in federal prison for a $9.6 million fraud on a single investor, the Chicago Sun-Times reported [2]. He was ordered to repay $7.2 million, WBBM Newsradio reported [3].

How the scheme worked

According to Gorodetsky's plea agreement, as described by prosecutors [1]:

1. The "day trader": From 2014 to 2018, Gorodetsky presented himself as a successful day trader who would invest an individual's money and share the profits.
2. Pocketing most of it: Of about $953,000 he first received, he invested only $215,000 and kept the rest.
3. Fake gains: He falsely said the investments had grown to $2 million and that the gains should go toward sports wagers.
4. Betting money: He got about $8.74 million more for sports betting, much of which he spent on living expenses, travel, entertainment, luxury cars and jewelry.

The investor lost about $7.1 million. Gorodetsky also failed to report the money as income, a tax loss of more than $2.65 million, prosecutors said. The Sun-Times reported prosecutors said he spent more than $2.2 million on travel, entertainment, a Rolls-Royce, a Bentley, two Lamborghinis and jewelry [2].

The person sentenced

Robert Gorodetsky, 28 at sentencing, of Northbrook, Ill.

• Charges: filed in January 2020 [2].
• Plea (Feb. 5, 2020): pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return [1].
• Sentence (April 29, 2021): 28 months in prison, imposed by U.S. District Judge Elaine E. Bucklo, plus repayment of $7.2 million [2] [3].
• Investigation: IRS Criminal Investigation and FBI Chicago.

Red flags

• A trader who flaunts wealth on social media but won't show audited results.
• Paper "gains" you're told to roll into something riskier, like sports wagers, instead of withdrawing.
• No brokerage statements in your own name.

What to do if you're targeted

1. Insist on accounts in your name at a registered broker-dealer, with statements sent directly to you.
2. Try withdrawing "profits." Excuses and delays are a warning sign.
3. Report suspected investment fraud to the SEC at sec.gov/tcr or the FBI at ic3.gov.

Case status (as of Oct. 16, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status as of Oct. 16, 2026	Source
Robert Gorodetsky, Northbrook, Ill.	N.D. Ill. (Judge Bucklo)	Pleaded guilty Feb. 5, 2020, to wire fraud and filing a false tax return; sentenced April 29, 2021, to 28 months; $7.2M repayment ordered	[1]-[3]

The sentence was imposed in 2021; we have not found a source on any later proceedings.

Sources

1. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois, "North Suburban Man Pleads Guilty to Orchestrating $9.6 Million Fraud Scheme," Feb. 5, 2020. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/north-suburban-man-pleads-guilty-orchestrating-96-million-fraud-scheme
2. Jon Seidel, "Flashy sports gambler caught in $9.6M fraud gets more than two years in prison," Chicago Sun-Times, April 29, 2021. https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2021/4/29/22409738/flashy-sports-gambler-caught-9-6m-fraud-more-than-two-years-in-prison
3. Mike Krauser, "Northbrook man ordered to pay back millions for a fraud scheme, sentenced to 28-months in prison," WBBM Newsradio, April 30, 2021. https://www.audacy.com/wbbm780/news/local/northbrook-man-to-pay-back-millions-for-a-fraud-scheme

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