GOLDEN, Colo. -- A man who ran a high-stakes poker club that prosecutors said doubled as a sophisticated crime operation has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Jeffrey Castardi, 48, was said to be at the center of the Gin Rummy Club, which started as an illegal gambling operation and turned into a massive loan-sharking, money-laundering, and thieving enterprise. The gambling ring attracted prominent doctors, lawyers, businessmen and athletes.

Castardi and members of his criminal enterprise acquired “significant sums of money” between May 2003 and late 2008 through unregulated poker and sportsbook play, according to the indictment. The operation allegedly collected money, owed from sizeable gambling debts, through a “complex, persistent and intimidating system” of debt collectors, front businesses and bank accounts. Castardi and his codefendants were suspected of violating numerous provisions of state law, including running an illegal professional gambling and bookmaking business, loan-sharking, money laundering, tax evasion, theft and unlawful debt collection.

“The Office of the Attorney General and its partners in law enforcement take the problems posed by illegal gambling operations very seriously,” said Colorado Attorney General John Suthers. “Mr. Castardi’s sentence should underline that we will vigorously pursue anyone who violates Colorado’s organized crime laws.”

The Gin Rummy Club gambling ring was dismantled in February as part of an investigation called “Operation Aces and Eights.” In October, Castardi pleaded guilty to violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, a felony.

An indictment had accused him and his associates of running an illegal gambling ring centering around the Gin Rummy Club in south Denver, and of loan-sharking, money laundering, tax evasion, theft and unlawful debt collection.

Security had to be tight at the club at 2380 South Broadway because the real game being played was high-stakes Texas Hold ‘Em.

“(It was) a lot of money. We’re talking hundreds of thousands, if not millions,” Suthers said at the time of the indictment. “Eventually, the rock gets turned over and things like this get discovered.”

The money was funneled through a complex system that involved ATMs, various bank accounts and two Denver restaurants -- Mario n' Wongs and Gennaro's. Both restaurants are now closed.

The indictment also alleged Castardi claimed to be part of the mafia to intimidate debtors.