Online Casino Patron Jailed for Non-Cooperation

November 19, 2009 | News Category: Gaming Law

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The US Department of Justice has been attacking online casinos and other online gambling sites for some time now. Apart from disrupting business for online gambling operations, they now seem to have developed a new tack, that of targeting US residents that have been patrons of online casinos that have recently been targeted.

Prosecutors attempted to get Nicholas Zicarelli, an online gambling patron, to testify against Internet casinos with which he had had contact. Zicarelli's lawyer, Kenneth Hensley, said that his client was simply a random patron of various sites that are under investigation by the US federal authorities. He noted, however, that his client is being treated as if he is a criminal suspect.

Zicarelli chose not to testify, pleading the Fifth Amendment in order to protect himself from self-incrimination. The judge ordered Zicarelli to cooperate with the government, and granted him immunity from prosecution, which removed any protection that would have been afforded him under his Fifth Amendment rights. In other words, if Zicarelli chooses not to cooperate with the government, he is now open to charges of contempt.

Hensley said of Zicarelli that "He's a law-abiding citizen who doesn't want to be dragged into this investigation."

Paul Becker, the Assistant US Attorney, said that residents need to be ready to tell the truth about their bookmakers, and that if they are not prepared to tell the truth about them, they should be ready to face contempt charges.

Zicarelli comes from the Kansas City area, and he, along with many others from Kansas City, feel that Assistant Attorney Becker is taking extreme measures for cases that are not so serious. They wonder why the assistant attorney is not spending his time chasing crimes that are far more serious in nature.

Anne Bennett, a resident of Kansas City, when speaking of Becker, said "He's obviously let the power go to his head. I don't appreciate my tax dollars going to someone with ego."

This situation, where United States residents are being individually targeted in the ongoing war against online gambling operations, simply seems to be taking the situation to another, much higher, level. While certain branches of the US government are obviously trying to warn residents about the "dangers" of online gambling, it seems that they have simply figured out a way to terrorize individuals.

These individuals that have been targeted along with online casinos, and other gambling institutions, now stand in fear of a much bigger danger than they could ever have met via online gambling that of possibly having their money seized, and being placed in jail if they do not fully cooperate with those victimizing online gambling.