Quote:
Originally Posted by laughing gravy
The return of forfeited funds to victims of the alleged fraud may be possible, but will depend on several factors, including the successful conclusion of the litigation, the amount of funds seized and ordered forfeited by the court
How many times, it's all spin. THE DOJ DO NOT CARE ABOUT IT'S PEOPLE AND WILL NOT GIVE YOU A ****ING PENNY.
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Dear laughing gravy:
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the DoJ (SDNY) has publicly stated - in the filed and amended complaints - that they consider any money won [by players] to be the fruits of an "illegal activity" and thus subject to seizure. Such a position, if that is in fact the DoJ's view, would imply that the DoJ considers American players who were playing on these sites to also be in violation of U.S. law. Therefore, the seizure of any monies these players won is simply "tough luck" as players shouldn't have been playing on these illegal sites in the first place.
I get the impression that there is not an overwhelming sense of sympathy within the DoJ for players who have had their money seized - especially considering all the anti-DoJ tirades posted by poker players on the DoJ's Facebook page. The DoJ might soften their position and seek to return players money if they actually arrest (and attempt to prosecute) Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Rafe Furst and any other indicted Full Tilt "directors" who are physically here in the United States. They would do this, one assumes, on the theory that it only takes one angry or unhappy member of a 12-person jury - like say a former Full Tilt player whose money was seized - to nullify an otherwise unanimous jury. (This "theory" also assumes that the DoJ is actually serious about prosecuting these individuals.)
One topic which has not been mentioned in all this hand wringing is all the reassuring statements by the poker sites themselves (as well as the PPA) prior to Black Friday that what the sites were doing was "legal" and did not violate any U.S. laws. How many times does one recall reading blanket statements (especially in the Legislation forum) that the poker sites had legal opinions by respected law firms - and "several of the nation's most prestigious law firms" - that no laws were being broken? (Interesting how none of these "prestigious law firms" are now stepping up to the plate and declaring "We are the firm that advised Full Tilt and Pokerstars!")
I remember commenting, in response to one of these bland assurances, that buying an "opinion" from a law firm is like buying sex from a hooker - you give the lawyers money and they give you what you want. Now that these "legal opinions" appear to be worthless, I wonder if Pokerstars and Full Tilt have grounds for bringing a malpractice lawsuit (for poor legal advice) against these "prestigious" law firms? The Full Tilt crowd suing the law firm(s) who delivered these vaunted legal opinions ... that would be a litigation spectacle that might go on for 15 years (or be quietly settled out of court since these prestigious law firms might not wish to have their reputations sullied by association with criminally indicted poker sites.)
Former DJ
Two Plus Two
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