More Gambling Processor Problems

Posted 2/14/11 : An allegedly chequered past for Pennsylvania firm
 
Revelations of more anti-online gambling e-processing prosecutions surfacing this week brought with them a blast from the past, naming the now defunct sports betting brand BetonSports, one of the first major online betting firms to be taken down by the US federal enforcement authorities at a cost of millions of dollars.
 
The reports concern actions by the US Attorney’s office in East Pennsylvania and date back to allegations of involvement in online gambling processing between 2005 and 2006.  The company involved, Payment Processing Center, appears to have a chequered past in which fraudulent telemarketing charges feature.
 
Earlier this week  a Philadelphia resident was charged with involvement in an illegal gambling business that involved sports betting, and has yet to respond with a plea.
 
In the current case, six Pennsylvanian defendants allegedly associated with the PPC stand accused of involvement in the illegal transfer of $44 million, which the prosecution claims was moved in transactions between online gamblers and internet gambling website operators. Thus far Sportsbook.com, Bodog.com, BetonSports.com and MySportsbook.com have been named as being among those operations.
 
The charges against the six individuals are serious, including conspiracy; running an illegal gambling operation; and money laundering – all of which are felonies that can carry substantial prison sentences and fines.
 
A senior former executive of PPC, Donald Hellinger, has told authorities he will fight the charges, whilst US Attorney Zane Memeger – the same federal official handling the Philadelphia case mentioned earlier – is heading the government investigative team.
 
Memeger has revealed that the charges involve the movement of funds by several companies, including DTX Solutions in the Caribbean, which is alleged to have transferred money to another company titled UC Safety in Britain, and other entities in Canada.