FBI Arrests Neteller Execs

Alcibaides writes "In a follow-up to the 2006 law attacking Internet gambling, the FBI arrested two former Neteller executives in 'connection with the creation and operation of an Internet payment services company that facilitated the transfer of billions of dollars of illegal gambling proceeds.' Apparently, the execs were 'ambushed' as they passed through the U.S. on connecting flights. Consequently, Neteller has dropped all gambling-related activity to U.S. customers, a move not expected for several months."

Comments

Not US Citizens...

[Sorthum]

This should be interesting, to see how foreign countries react to the detention of their citizens for something so paltry...

Re:Not US Citizens...

[Anonymous Coward]

Everyone inside the sovereign borders of a country should expect to be subject to its laws whether they agree with them or not.

So the US soldiers who raped that Iraqi woman should be subject to Iraqi law and not US military law?

Out of Curiosity...

[Sorthum]

...are they being charged with violating this new law, or with other laws that are already on the books? Since they haven't done anything but own stock in the company since 2005, one would think that they couldn't be accused of crimes they committed before they were classed as illegal...

Re:Fun while it lasted.

[ttys00]

The reason the government cares is that half a dozen native Indian tribes, who happen to own casinos, have bought a large bunch of politicians. Jack Abramoff was acting as the router to distribute the cash amongst congressmen. They and their constituents don't care about online gambling - they are just voting on legislation the way their "campaign contributors" tell them to vote.

Also, as you say, tax is part of it. There is a large budget deficit, and outlawing online gambling before raising taxes on casino gambling would go part of the way towards filling the hole in the government's finances.

Re:US is trying to enforce its law on the whole wo

[viking80]

You are missing an important point about how the law relates to national souvereignity:
Murder is unlawful in most contries/states, but the juristicion to prosecute and punish rests solely with the county/state.

If you commit murder in Idaho, a California court can not convict you of that crime.
If you commit murder in Denmark, the US can not convict you of that crime.

This is part of international treaties that all memebers of the UN are signatories to.

however, over the last years, the US are in many areas violating this, and treat the entire world as US juristicion.

This includes areas like
1. Actions aganinst people/companies living/based in tax havens
2. Underage sex tourism
3. Online gambling
and other

(1) is mostly to get more tax revenue, (2) is beacause local juristicions is lax, and (3) is to protect national casinos that donate a lot of money to candidates.