DOJ Not Through With BetonSports Yet.

Published: Saturday, August 12, 2006 Online-Casinos.com

WE'RE NOT THROUGH WITH YOU YET, DOJ TELLS BETONSPORTS

Despite Friday's withdrawal from all US activity, the UK gambling group still faces prosecution, but Carruthers may be allowed out on bail soon.

The closure of all US facing BetonSports operations (see previous Online-Casinos.com and InfoPowa bulletins), including its large service centre in Costa Rica and other facilities in Antigua, which has thrown hundreds of people into unemployment will not pacify the US prosecutors, it seems.

Federal prosecutors said Friday they will continue prosecuting BetOnSports PLC even though the online gambling company is shutting down its operations that take bets from U.S. customers, and faces a bleak business future.

Separately, U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway's office approved conditions for the release of London-based BetOnSports' former Chief Executive David Carruthers, according to his attorney, Scott Rosenblum. It is not certain what has happened to Tim Evans, the original lawyer engaged by Carruthers, who has been in custody since July 16.

Rosenblum said prosecutors are waiting for $1 million in bond money to be wired to St. Louis before his release. The large wire transfer was delayed by technical complications Friday but should arrive no later than Monday, he said.

Hanaway's case against BetOnSports is one of the most high-profile prosecutions of online gambling. Last month, her office unveiled a 22-count indictment against the company. It seeks a $4.5 billion forfeiture from Carruthers and 10 other people associated with the operation that the government claims fraudulently took bets from U.S. residents by phone and the Internet, and failed to pay excise taxes.

Hanaway told The Associated Press Friday her prosecution won't be affected by BetOnSports' decision to close its offices in Costa Rica and Antigua offices that processed billions of dollars worth of bets placed from the United States.

"It's always good when people quit committing crime, but that doesn't release them from the criminal or civil liability from the crimes they've already done," she said.

On Friday, Rosenblum met with prosecutors in the chambers of U.S. Judge Mary Ann Medler. He said all parties agreed on the terms of Carruthers' release, which will require him to stay in the St. Louis area under electronic monitoring until his trial on racketeering and fraud charges.

One person who does not appear happy with the manner in which BetonSports handled the issue is the head of the Costa Rica Association of Sportsbooks, Eduardo Agami who is concerned at the impact so many job redundancies will have on the small country's social and economic fabric.

"It is very important to realize that for a poverty-stricken country, the loss of 2000 jobs soon turns into 6000 when you consider the families affected," he said. Agami told Gambling 911: "Sure they (BetonSports) could have been more careful bringing the operation out onto US soil but BetonSports current management should have responded more aggressively (to the indictment). They shut down briefly then regroup. They are not standing up to the challenge and this can send a negative message throughout the industry."

Agami considered BetonSports founder and now fugitive from US justice, Gary Kaplan, a close personal friend. Kaplan is believed to have fled to Spain, based on a report filed in the Costa Rica newspaper La Nacion.