NEW YORK, Jan 24 (Reuters) – A U.S. judge on Wednesday set Feb. 14 as the date for a preliminary hearing for the two founders of UK payment processing company NETeller Plc (NLR.L: Quote, Profile , Research) who are charged with handling billions of dollars in gambling wagers and winnings.
The decision sets the stage for further federal court proceedings in the case against NETeller founders, Canadians John Lefebvre, 55, and Stephen Lawrence, 46, who were arrested earlier this month as U.S. authorities continued their crackdown on Internet gambling.
The magistrate judge at the U.S. Court for the Southern District of New York extended Lefebvre’s $5 million bail during a brief hearing on Wednesday. Lawrence appeared in court last week, when his bail was also extended.
Under the terms of the bail, Lefebvre has surrendered his travel documents and is restricted to traveling within parts of New York and California.
The government would have to file formal charges before the Feb. 14 hearing, said Lefebvre’s lawyer Vincent Marella.
Lefebvre declined to comment after the hearing.
If convicted, Lawrence and Lefebvre each face up to 20 years in prison.
Money transfer companies such as NETeller, based in the Isle of Man, allow gambling companies to transfer money collected from U.S. bettors to overseas bank accounts.
Most online gaming executives have avoided traveling to the United States since the crackdown on Internet gambling began last year with the arrest of BETonSPORTS’ (BSS.L: Quote, Profile , Research) David Carruthers.
Source: Reuters