Devlin-Brown: Tzvetkoff Left US on Private Jet Minus Passport
US District Attorney Arlo Devlin-Brown convinced the Court not to allow payment processor Daniel Tzvetkoff out on bail despite last week's ruling to the contrary. Tzvetkoff is alleged to have laundered millions of dollars through processing of online gambling transactions.
Ultimately, Devlin-Brown prevailed with a New York District Judge ruling that Tzvetkoff must stay behind bars until his trial, and that could take up to two years according to legal experts.
The US District Attorney raised some valid points as to why Tzvetkoff should be deemed a "flight risk".
Devlin-Brown said that although Mr Tzvettkoff had forfeited his passport upon being granted bail last Wednesday, he had left the US on a private jet three times in the past, avoiding Customs on each occasion.
"Millions and millions of dollars have flowed through his hands and millions and millions appear to be missing,'' Judge Kaplan said."I am overwhelmingly persuaded that the defendant is a very serious flight risk, so he is ordered detained."
The parents of Mr Tzvetkoff's fiancee, Nicole Crisp, had also offered their modest $500,000 home in Brisbane as extra security, the Australian reported.
Tzvetkoff's dad's home was initially used as bond.
"There is substantial reason to believe the defendant has millions of dollars all over the world,'' Devlin-Brown told the court on Wednesday. He claims that the Australian online payment processor had funds hidden in Swiss and Caribbean safe havens.
Online gambling venues have accused Tzvetkoff of stealing millions from them. Ironically, most have applauded Devlin-Brown's efforts in this specific case even though he has made it his mission to shut down much of the industry. Devlin-Brown ordered some $50 million of funds belonging to PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker seized last summer.
Alejandro Botticelli, Gambling911.com
