As a result, U.S. customers will be able to log into their NETELLER accounts and request withdrawals no later than July 30. The exact date when customers can make their requests for their money has not yet been announced. The company says further information will be released when available to its customers through email and its website.
Both NETELLER and the USAO contradicted themselves in their statements. The USAO said that the deal allowed for NETELLER to return approximately $94 million of U.S. customer's money that it said NETELLER had in a foreign bank account. In its statement, NETELLER said the deal will allow approximately $60 million to be returned that was seized by the USAO in January.NETELLER stopped doing business with U.S. customers in January.
"This agreement resolves the USAO's investigation relating to the company's former U.S. business activities. We believe that this settlement is in the best interests of NETELLER and its shareholders. Our customers, employees, and shareholders have all patiently waited for this resolution.
"We anticipate within the next few weeks that we will have fully implemented the plan for the return of funds to our U.S. customers and are hopeful that, by that time, we will have restored the Company's shares to trading on AIM. We can now begin to refocus our efforts on building and strengthening the NETELLER business in the growing markets of the European and Asia Pacific regions."
As part of the settlement, NETELLER agreed to pay the U.S. $136 million. NETELLER says that includes the approximately $60 million that was seized during the first days of the investigation.
In January, the USAO charged the two founders of NETELLER, as well as the company, of violating various gambling-related laws. The founders, John Lefebvre and Steven Lawrence, both pleaded guilty earlier this month. They face up to five years in prison and fines in the millions of dollars, although since both agreed to participate in the investigation, it's doubtful they will receive the maximum sentence.
Sentencing for both men, who are Canadian, is in October.
As part of what's called a Deferred Prosecution Agreement that NETELLER entered with the USAO, it will continue to cooperate with both U.S. investigators as the investigation continues, and a forensic accounting firm that will make sure NETELLER continues to follow U.S. law. The firm will also help NETELLER set up procedures and controls to prevent what it deems illegal transactions between American gambling consumers and offshore online poker rooms and casinos.
POSTED ON: Jul 18, 2007
Again, why is the US Government continuing to say gambling is illegal? It has been held up in court that poker playing is NOT illegal. Some states have passed laws, but it is not the business of the federal government to enforce STATE laws. This is BS pure and simple from a government that is out of control. It amazes me that our government takes our money to spend it on lazy, welfare whores who do nothing but make more welfare babies, spends it on drunken whinos and calls them "homeless", spends it on ridiculous medical reasons and says we have the "rights" to healthcare. WRONG!!! We have the right to be defended and the right to STARVE if we dont earn a living. Im so sick of this nonsense
POSTED ON: Jul 18, 2007
Sounds Like extortion to me. If any individual American did this to a local storeowner, we would be thrown in jail for such an illegal activity. Why are the countries of the world trade organization letting this blatant strong-arm tactics be used? This show the world, America believes it’s self to be better than all other countries and are above the laws that they claim to hold so dear. Extortion, plan and simple, pay me and give me all I ask for and I will go away for now. But what about the next time or next company(s), if the countries and companies that are fighting for their right to the US market don’t stand up and fight these actions then maybe they should cave in to the US now and save themselves the troubles and cost that are sure to follow. These are just the thoughts of once American that is sick to see his country act in such away. I offer my apologies to rest of the world, in this case our government does not represent it’s people.