neteller founder pleads guilty

[arod4276]

http://www.majorwager.com/forums/mes...onspiracy.html

[Legislurker]

Wow, this has the potential to be devastating. If the Feds want 100mill, fat chance we get our balances back. I wish I knew why he pleaded out, its going to bankrupt him potentially, and go to jail, would think he would fight even with long odds.

[*TT*]

this is a sad day for us.

http://www.pokernews.com/news/2007/6...ads-guilty.htm

[Jay Cohen]

It's a classic shakedown under color of authority.

Nobody stands up and fights. Nothing is ever going to change if everyone always rolls.

[Skallagrim]

You guys are right about rolling, but as a defense lawyer let me say it is all too often the smart thing for the defendant to do...

The details of this will be key, The charges being dropped to one count of conspiracy is pretty favorable to Mr. Lawrence...

What I really wonder is whether the one count he is pleading guilty to makes any mention of poker; remember that neteller also (foolishly) funded the (clearly illegal under US law, but should not be under the WTO) sportsbetting sites.

But any time the DOJ gets what it wants in these cases it is bad for us to one degree or another.

Skallagrim

[mbpoker]

LeFebre pleaded not guilty so it looks like he has chosen to fight.

[Uglyowl]

That's a shame, everything was going our way for awhile. On a positive note (at least for most of us here), all has been related to sportsbetting one way or another.

I have nothing against sportsbetting and selfishly realize I can do it and is not dependent on how many others will.

[Legislurker]

What's your opinion about EcoCard, epass, and the other methods we have left? Will this spook them? Neteller is the biggest scalp the feds have ever gotten. Im sad its my country today.

[Jay Cohen]

I have a source who tells me that LeFebvre has also plead or is in the process of pleading. FWIW. Don't know how strong it is.

[BluffTHIS!]

[ QUOTE ]
What's your opinion about EcoCard, epass, and the other methods we have left? Will this spook them? Neteller is the biggest scalp the feds have ever gotten. Im sad its my country today.

[/ QUOTE ]


The difference with other payment processors, and with the sites, poker or sportsbetting, still doing business in the US, is that they know both not to come to the US, nor to even risk flying over it. This is just more of the tactic of FUD whereby the DoJ and the supporters of the IUGEA hope to scare the rest of the players in the industry, so that once the regs come out and mostly aren't effective in the face of constant adaptation, that they won't be looking like total fools.

Also re these neteller guys, note that they are older and could basically serve their time by the time a court case and appeals played out, and when they could still be facing serving that time. And there is no way in hell that if they knew they would get arrested, that they would have voluntarily come back to the US as Jay did to fight it.