PokerWorks

More indictments were handed down yesterday to gambling websites.  The U.S. Attorney of Maryland seized 10 domains and 11 bank accounts and three people were indicted and charged with conducting money laundering and an illegal gambling business.

The indictments named Ann Marie Puig of Costa Rica and David Parchomchuk and Darren Wright of British Columbia. The domains Doylesroom.com, Beted.com, Betehorse.com, Betmaker.com, Goldenarchcasino.com, Betgrandesports.com, Funtimebingo.com, Truepoker.com, Bookmaker.com, and 2Betsdi.com were seized.

A finding of the result of Homeland Security Investigations in Baltimore, Maryland - in a sworn affidavit - states: “own and manage illegal gambling businesses involving online sports betting.” Linwood Payment Solutions was noted as an undercover payment processor business in the findings. The affidavit goes on to add, “Linwood allowed undercover agents to gain person-to-person contact with top managers of gambling organizations to discuss the Internet gambling business, to negotiate contracts and terms of the processing, and to handle the intricate movement and processing of collection and payment data from the gambling organizations to the banks.

“The affidavit alleges that on November 12, 2009, a Maryland-based online gambler and cooperating informant confirmed that he/she frequented gambling sites, opened accounts and gambled in Maryland. The gambler agreed to set up online gambling accounts and was provided $500 to place bets on gambling websites. The gambler created an account on a BetEd website and placed several bets. On March 30, 2010, BetEd used Linwood to wire transfer $100 in winnings to the gambler’s bank account.”

Linwood processed more than $33 million in over 300,000 transactions for the companies since 2009 that included transactions for players in Maryland.

In a press release regarding the indictments, U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said, “It is illegal for internet gambling enterprises to do business in Maryland, regardless of where the website operator is located.” And, “We cannot allow foreign website operators to flout the law simply because their headquarters are based outside the country.”

“These indictments are the direct result of impressive undercover investigative work by our agents, along with the close collaboration of our law enforcement partners here in Maryland,” said William Winter, Special Agent in Charge of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Baltimore. “The proceeds from illegal Internet gambling are often used to fuel organized crime and support criminal activity. ICE HSI will work diligently to uncover illicit transactions involving these types of financial crimes. Together, with our law enforcement partners, we will disrupt and dismantle organizations that commit these crimes, regardless of their location, whether here in the United States or abroad."

The defendants could face maximum sentences of five years in prison on the illegal gambling business charge and a maximum of 20 years in prison for the money laundering charge if convicted.

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*Image borrowed from Department of Justice website*