US JUSTICE OFFICIALS DEFEND BECKLEY PLEA BARGAIN

July 10,2012 : US JUSTICE OFFICIALS DEFEND BECKLEY PLEA BARGAIN (Update)
 
Latest submissions on former Absolute Poker financial exec filed on July 3rd
 
The exchange of opinions around the severity of the sentence to be imposed on former Absolute Poker financial exec and Black Friday indictee, Brent Beckley appear to be continuing, judging by the latest submission filed by US Justice officials on July 3rd.
 
Our readers will recall that Beckley pleaded guilty, but that Judge Lewis Kaplan felt a more severe sentence than that agreed between Beckley and federal officials would be appropriate, sending the enforcement officials away to justify their assessment before he passed sentence.
 
The latest submission draws attention to the facts that Beckley has not challenged the Black Friday indictment, and has demonstrated a willingness to step forward and accept responsibility for his actions.
 
The document argues that there are several mitigating factors which support the enforcement view that a sentence of 12 to 18 months is appropriate and just.  These include reference to sentencing guidelines, and the fact that these do not require that the size of funds or enterprises involved be taken into account
 
"There is no evidence that Beckley intended to cause ultimate financial losses to banks, and no banks have identified for the Government actual losses attributable to Absolute Poker processing,” the submission notes in defending its deal with Beckley.
 
Beckley has been open and cooperative with federal authorities, the document notes, remarking that he was the first of the Black Friday indictees to surrender himself for arrest, rendering unnecessary the difficult task of securing his extradition from Costa Rica.