Well, that certainly can't be said for the US law enforcement officials who have targeted online gaming entrepreneurs. It took eight months after the highly touted bust of internet gaming sportsbook operators in March of '98 to finally get a second indictment. On Nov. 5, Allan Ross, who was affiliated with Island Casino and Sportsbook in Curacao at the time, was the second such indictee among the Group of 20. Three have accepted plea bargains. Four have not returned to the US to face the criminal complaints and the rest still await indictments.
Ross was formally charged with four counts of violating the Interstate Wire Act (1084) and one count of conspiracy to violate that act. There were no other charges (for racketeering, for example) in this indictment. Ross told IGN that he will vigorously fight the charges.
The case will be heard by Judge Kimba Wood. Pleadings on the part of defendant are expected by January 25 with a response from the US District Court in New York by February 25.
The only other defendant to have moved forward in the criminal process is Jay Cohen of World Wide Sports Exchange (WSEX) in Antigua who has reportedly been pushing the federal officials to bring his case to trial.
A reminder that all 20 people who had criminal complaints brought against them are citizens of the United States of America.