Canadians charged in online gambling case
Larry Neumeister
Associated Press, Toronto Star, January 16, 2007
NEW YORK -
“Two founders of a company which processes Internet gambling transactions were arrested and charged with laundering billions of dollars in gambling proceeds, U.S. federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.
The charges against the former Neteller PLC directors, John David Lefebvre, 55, and Stephen Eric Lawrence, 46, both Canadian citizens, were contained in two criminal complaints unsealed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Monday, U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said in a statement.
The prosecutor said the men knew when they took their company public that its activities were illegal.
“Blatant violations of U.S. law are not a mere `risk’ to be disclosed to prospective investors,” Garcia said. “Criminal prosecutions related to online gambling will be pursued even in cases where assets and defendants are positioned outside of the United States.”
FBI assistant director Mark Mershon said the multibillion-dollar online gambling industry was “a colossal criminal enterprise masquerading as legitimate business.”‘ Continued …..
