Latest news with #VinArmani
RNZ News
29-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Tinian adopts cryptocurrency for internet gaming
Photo: Supplied The island of Tinian in the Northern Marianas is the first US jurisdiction to adopt a government-backed cryptocurrency for internet gaming. The CNMI's House of Representatives has voted to override Governor Arnold Palacios' veto of a senate bill. Senate Local Bill 24-01, Draft 1 essentially authorizes internet gaming using a regulated platform and creates the "Tinian Stable Token" or MUSD, backed by the US dollar and managed by the CNMI treasury on a secure blockchain. It also enables casinos to accept and process stablecoin payments for digital gaming and mandates full transparency and recordkeeping of all gaming transactions. Chief technology officer of Marianas Rai Corporation, and an advocate of the measure, Vin Armani, told lawmakers the actions they took on the matter of the override "will have an impact on the economic prosperity, or lack thereof, for generations of citizens of the CNMI". "You have a chance to attract billions of dollars of investment and tax revenue from the fastest growing segment of the financial technology industry." Senator Jude Hofschneider, who co-sponsored the bill, emphasized the need for diversification in the wake of repeated economic shocks from tourism decline and federal program wind-downs. He thanked the House for passing the override of Palacios' veto. "We believe that this initiative can help not only Tinian but the entire CNMI in our efforts to economic recovery," he said. "We often hear statements being made about diversifying our economy. This exercise is a great indication of what that means." He assured lawmakers that regulations and enforcement mechanisms already exist through the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission, which would oversee licensing and compliance. Palacios initially vetoed the measure, citing concerns raised by the Office of the Attorney General about oversight, financial transparency, and constitutional authority. The Attorney-General questioned whether such a currency framework could bypass federal and local financial regulations or create liabilities for the CNMI government. But lawmakers in both the Senate and House rejected the veto, arguing that the bill only enables a legal framework and does not appropriate any government funds or authorize uncontrolled crypto trading. Tinian's local leaders said the system will be tightly regulated, with every token transaction recorded on a tamper-proof blockchain for public auditing. Representative Patrick San Nicolas said a vote to override Palacios' veto on the bill is a vote for the future of not only Tinian but the entire CNMI. "Overriding this Senate local bill is a forward-looking measure that gives our island and our Commonwealth the legal infrastructure to enter a global digital economy, through standalone internet gaming licenses and the creation of the Tinian stablecoin. "This is not a rushed thing into unregulated digital wireless. This is a bill about transparency. This is a bill about accountability and modern financial infrastructure. It is about building an economy within the Commonwealth." Floor leader, representative Marissa Flores, who voted no to the override, asked her colleagues for patience and not to rush into passing an override without carefully thinking of its ramifications. "By taking the time to think carefully, to act thoughtfully, and to persevere patiently, we can make decisions that not only serve our immediate political needs, but also pave the way for the long-term security, prosperity, and the well-being of our Marianas." On 9 May the Senate voted 7-1 to override Palacios' veto, which then needed a two-thirds majority in the House to pass and was voted through 14-2 on 15 May.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Former male escort's horrifying claim after his picture was blasted out at Diddy trial
A former reality TV star identified by Cassie Ventura as one of the escorts she allegedly was forced to have a 'freak off' with under the instruction of her ex, Sean ' Diddy ' Combs, claims he is the victim of mistaken identity. Vin Armani told he has never had any sexual contact with the singer or the disgraced Bad Boy mogul. He said he doesn't understand why his picture was included in the bunch of photos of male escorts federal prosecutors showed to Ventura in court last week. Armani, who has moved out of the US and is now a successful tech entrepreneur in Saipan, claims federal prosecutors never informed him that his name and image would be showed during Combs' criminal trial in Manhattan. 'This has sucked for me that my name has been brought into this because, as I said, I have absolutely no information — nor have I ever witnessed — regarding anything even approximating an unethical behavior, never mind criminal behavior, from Diddy or Cassie,' Armani exclusively told 'I have never once been contacted by any lawyer or authority associated with this case, even though, clearly, it's not hard to contact me. Clearly, there are lots of problems with what is being said on the stand and shown by the prosecution.' He also wrote a book titled the Tao of the Gigolo that was released in 2011. Since leaving the entertainment world, however, Armani has become involved in crypto currency, tech development and authored other books on philosophy. The former escort admits he 'hung out with literally hundreds of celebrities on a regular basis,' but maintains he never was involved with Diddy or Ventura. An emotional Ventura broke down during her testimony last week and claimed Combs would direct her to have unprotected sex with male escorts during their 10-year relationship. The singer said it was 'humiliating' and 'disgusting' that she was allegedly forced to take part in the freak offs. 'I never wanted anyone to ever see me like that,' she said on the stand last week. 'It was not OK for me and I felt the idea of it, being tossed around like I was nothing ... objectifying me and putting me in these really compromising, gross positions with strangers.' Ventura was shown pictures of several male escorts and identified Armani as one of the men she had sex with in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Armani denies these claims. 'I have never had an interaction with Diddy and/or Cassie that included — or where I witnessed — violence, illegal drugs, contracting for sexual services/acts (prostitution), or the transportation of any person from anywhere to anywhere whatsoever,' he said. 'So, just as with the hundreds of interactions I have had with celebrities, and the thousands of interactions I have had with other people in my life, I have no knowledge of any interaction that would be pertinent in any way to a criminal case of any kind. Had any attorney or authority ever contacted me, this fact would have been plain for them to see.' has reached out to officials with the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, who declined to comment on Armani's claims that he was never contacted by investigators, and that he never had any sexual interactions with Combs or Ventura. Armani said he has received even more scrutiny after other media outlets mistakenly ran his picture and identified him as 'Jules', another the male escort who was allegedly with Ventura and Combs at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Calif. in March 2016. Ventura testified she was participating in a freak off with Jules and Combs when her ex suddenly slapped her in the face, causing her to have a black eye. The 2016 incident has been a major focus of Combs' criminal case as prosecutors played for jurors the extended surveillance video footage of the rapper kicking Ventura and dragging her by her hair as she tried to leave the hotel. Armani said he has never used the name 'Jules' and he was not in California the day of the March 2016 incident. 'I lived in Vegas during that period and I was in New York the entire weekend in question,' Armani told 'I have the records of my plane tickets and even receipts from purchase of in-flight WiFi. 'Clearly, there are lots of problems with what is being said on the stand and shown by the prosecution. Again, I have proof that I could not possibly have been in Los Angeles on the day this Jules person — someone who is absolutely and categorically not me — supposedly was. 'Had any lawyer or authority ever contacted me, it would have been immediately obvious to them that any claim that I was present at the incident in question is completely false.' Armani said he has moved on from his life in Las Vegas and entertainment. He moved out of mainland US a few years ago, has authored a few books and is focusing on bringing new technology to Saipan, where he now lives. Armani is often seen in the community volunteering his time and is the board president of the Trade Council of the Marianas, which has a goal to bring educational opportunities, businesses and global technology to the islands. A frustrated Armani said being mentioned as part of Combs' criminal case has caused damage not only to his name but his community. 'I live in Saipan, a US commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which now shows up in any Google search of my name, and where this TMZ bulls--t and the lack of professionalism or competence from the prosecution has damaged my reputation in our small, conservative community,' he said. TMZ named and pictured Saipan in their reporting of the trial, but have since made a correction on being informed that Saipan denies any connection to Diddy or his freak offs. Diddy, 55, faces life in prison if convicted of all charges, which include racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has plead not guilty to all charges. His trial will resume on May 27.
