FBI Seize Control of PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker

[Assistanc3]

The United States Department of Justice released a PDF of the indictment, and in it, 11 defendants are named: Isai Scheinberg, Raymond Bitar, Scott Tom, Brent Beckley, Nelson Burtnick, Paul Tate, Ryan Lang, Bradley Franzen, Ira Rubin, Chad Elie, and John Campos.

The indictment charges eleven defendants, including the founders of PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker, with bank fraud, money laundering, and illegal gambling offenses, according to Federal authorities

Restraining orders were issued against more than 75 bank accounts used by the poker companies and their payment processors, while five Internet domain names used by the companies to host poker games were seized.

As charged, these defendants concocted an elaborate criminal fraud scheme, alternately tricking some U.S. banks and effectively bribing others to assure the continued flow of billions in illegal gambling profits. Moreover, as we allege, in their zeal to circumvent the gambling laws, the defendants also engaged in massive money laundering and bank fraud. Foreign firms that choose to operate in the United States are not free to flout the laws they don’t like simply because they can’t bear to be parted from their profits," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said.

FBI said, "These defendants, knowing full well that their business with U.S. customers and U.S. banks was illegal, tried to stack the deck. They lied to banks about the true nature of their business. Then, some of the defendants found banks willing to flout the law for a fee. The defendants bet the house that they could continue their scheme, and they lost."

Screen Shot of Domain Seized (ty ProBlackBird)

This effects everyone as a player pool, but directly effects American poker players who are now no longer able to access their cashier on the poker clients, thus meaning you can not play real money poker.

updated: http://www.pokerowned.com/forums/f27...ires-3669.html
updated: http://www.pokerowned.com/forums/f27...-u-s-3670.html

[soulofheaven]

breaking news

[btngu]

what will happen to our $? i bet its too late to cash out

[Assistanc3]

It takes a bit of time for the web address to be shut down fully (DNS changes take time to propagate)

makes you think twice about using GoDaddy

[EarlSK]

Is our cash in danger?..

[theace0224]

Okay this is weird..Hope my state won't be banned

[gtrippp]

This really sux!!!

[ProBlackbird]

Why are they doing this for US? Why can it just not be legal ? :P

[Assistanc3]

Politics and Money

[fbb01]

I understand that this is only for US poor ppl they can't play anymore