A letter sent to a federal judge from assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Kay shows that the U.S. has not forgotten about the indictment of Bodog Entertainment officials for illegal gambling and money laundering.
But it could be years before the case is settled.
A federal grand jury in Maryland indicted the online sports-betting giant Bodog Entertainment Group and four Canadians, including Bodog founder Calvin Ayre more than two years ago.
A letter sent by assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Kay to the judge presiding over the case says the U.S. “intends to continue to try to find a resolution that will not require extradition of the defendants, but in the meantime, I am pursuing extradition.”
The defendants are thought to be living in Canada and in Antigua, the letter said, but acknowledged that extradition process “can take a number of years.” Kay suggested the case be “closed administratively until there is a need for further proceedings.”
Bodog, Ayre, accountant James Philip, controller and e-commerce chief David Ferguson, and media buyer Derrick Maloney were all indicted for running an illegal online sports-betting business from 2005 to 2012. They are accused of transferring at least $100 million used to pay winners and advertisers in the U.S. from Bodog’s accounts in Switzerland, England, Malta, Canada, and elsewhere.
Ayre has said that “it is clear that the online gaming industry is legal under international law” and has called the indictment an “abuse of the U.S. criminal justice system.”
The Bodog.com domain was seized under a federal warrant when the indictment was made.
