Federal authorities suggest BetOnSports founder plans to flee if released on bail
Wednesday 30th May 2007
US federal prosecutors have alleged that BetOnSports’ founder Gary Kaplan had made plans to escape to a neutral country that wouldn’t hand him over to US authorities, in their bid to prevent his release on bail prior to facing charges of racketeering and fraud.
According to prosecutors, Kaplan was in ownership of a handcuff key, five passports and cash in four different currencies.
BetOnSports pleaded guilty last week in relation to a racketeering conspiracy charge, a move which has landed the company with a $500,000 (£251,880) fine plus billions of pounds in forfeitures. The agreement has not ended the case against Kaplan and Chief Executive David Carruthers, for which a trial date has still not been confirmed.
Kaplan's father-in-law Warren Hoeffner argued that Kaplan said that he would not leave the country, claiming that he would be willing to put up his houses, worth an estimated $6.6 million, to guarantee Kaplan's attendance in court.
