Southern District of New York - Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of an indictment on April, 15 charging 11 defendants, including the founders of the three largest Internet poker companies doing business in the United States—PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker in connection with bank fraud, money laundering, and illegal gambling offenses.
On October 13, 2006, the United States enacted the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (“UIGEA"), making it a federal crime for gambling businesses to “knowingly accept" most forms of payment “in connection with the participation of another person in unlawful Internet gambling." Despite the passage of UIGEA, the Poker Companies, located offshore, continued operating in the United States.
The 11 defendants charges by the Fed are some of the largest Internet Gaming owners operating in the United States. The following is a list of the Defendants.
Defendant Citizenship Residence Age
ISAI SCHEINBERG Canada Israel Isle of Man 64 (est.)
RAYMOND BITAR United States California Ireland 39
SCOTT TOM United States Costa Rica 31
BRENT BECKLEY United States Costa Rica 31
NELSON BURTNICK Canada Ireland 40
PAUL TATE Unknown Isle of Man Unknown
RYAN LANG Canada Canada 36
BRADLEY FRANZEN United States Cost Rica 41
IRA RUBIN United States Costa Rica 52
CHAD ELIE United States Nevada 31
JOHN CAMPOS United States Utah 57
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