Eleven defendants, including the principals of the three largest online gambling companies (PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker) were indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York for Bank Fraud, Money Laundering and various gambling offenses.  That indictment was unsealed today.  On October 13, 2006, Congress enacted the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which made a person's knowingly accepting most forms of payment "in connection with the participation of another person in unlawful internet gambling" a federal crime, if that person is engaged in the business of betting or wagering.  These offshore companies asserted that the U.S. Government had no control over their financial matters, and refused to discontinue offering their services in the United States via the Internet.  In addition to various criminal penalties, the Government is seeking over $3 billion in civil money laundering penalties.  Read the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York's press release here: "Manhattan U.S. Attorney Charges Principals of Three Largest Internet Poker Companies with Bank Fraud..."

Jack Camp, a former U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia judge, surrendered to federal prison today to serve a thirty day sentence on drug-related charges.  Camp's attorneys successfully argued that his erratic behavior (such as using drugs with a stripper-turned-Government-confidential-informant and buying drugs while armed with two handguns) was the result of a long battle with depression and a head injury from a bicycling accident eleven years ago.  Camp surrendered to the satellite camp at Federal Correctional Institution El Reno, Oklahoma. Read the Atlanta Journal Constitution's article here: "Ex-Judge Reports to Prison on Drug-Related Charges"