Last month the online poker players applauded the online poker payment processor, Account Services, which filed a motion for the return of property that was frozen by the US Attorney’s Office from the southern district in New York. The US Attorney’s office froze millions of dollars that belonged to players from both PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker. The two poker giants used account services to process funds back and forth from players.
The motion for the return of property clearly states, “The warrant [for Union Bank] was issued 12 days after the seizure, on the basis of an affidavit filed under seal by Dana Conte, Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The affidavit remains under seal. As of the date of this filing, no criminal or civil action, including forfeiture, has been initiated with regard to this seizure.”
Douglas Rennick, in connection to Account Services was indicted last week. This indictment could weaken the fight against this US Attorney’s Office.
People close to this case say the U.S. Government doesn’t really have a leg to stand on.
“She (Agent Conte) contradicts what is contained in the indictment,” said an anonymous individual. “The indictment throws in online casinos and bingo because they (the US Government) know they cannot win if this is solely about online poker transactions.”
This week the New York Circuit Court passed down a decision in favor of Costigan Media. This motion allowed them to intervene and unseal seizure warrants on the matter at hand. But the court now has to decide if some of the concealed contents will be allowed public now, since the indictment of Douglas Rennick was handed down.