On Monday, Chad Elie became the fourth of five payment processors to plead guilty to charges resulting from the indictments that were unsealed on Black Friday.
Facing numerous charges including violation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and the Illegal Gambling Business Act (IGBA), Elie pled guilty to a single count of conspiracy and has agreed to turn over $500k in exchange for a sentence in the range of six to twelve months.
US District Judge Lewis Kaplan scheduled sentencing for October 3. Elie is set to receive a lighter sentence than many of the payment processors that pled guilty before him.
Last month, Ryan Lang pled guilty to charges stemming from processing illegal transactions for poker companies. He faces up to 30 years in prison for conspiracy to commit tax fraud and money laundering, violation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and accepting funds in connection with Internet gambling. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 24.
In January, Ira Rubin pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the UIGEA: “one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, and one count of money laundering conspiracy.” The maximum prison sentence Rubin faces 55 years, but the Stipulated Guideline Range set forth in the agreement is 18-24 months. Sentencing for Rubin is scheduled for May 17.
In May, Bradley Franzen pled guilty to three counts including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and accepting funds in connection to the UIGEA. Those charges carry a maximum of 30 years imprisonment but a recommendation of a lesser sentence has been withheld and a sentencing hearing is not scheduled.
In December, Brent Beckley co-owner of Absolute Poker pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the UIGEA and conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. He faces a maximum of 35 years in prison but prosecutors have recommended a sentence of 12 to 18 months. Beckley is scheduled to be sentenced on April 19, 2012.
John Campos is still scheduled to stand trial on April 9.
