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Some might be thinking, if Roman Polanski could evade US law enforcement for more than 30 years after being charged with raping a minor, surely the head man at Full Tilt Poker should have no problem remaining on the lam just as long. Bitar, after all, is not a rapist. He's simply a poker player who just happened to be running one of the largest online poker rooms in the world, and he made loads of money doing so.
Raymond Bitar was indicted exactly one year ago for running an online poker site, Full Tilt Poker. Charges include money laundering and bank fraud.
Like Polanski, US authorities have been unable – or quite possibly unwilling – to capture the elusive Bitar.
Why should Ray be worried?
After all, US law enforcement has done little to try and go after Polanski despite the occasional media brouhaha. Most would argue Bitar’s alleged criminal offense is substantially less heinous than that for which Polanski was accused back in 1978.
The Director of classics such as “Rosemary’s Baby” and "Tess" was finally arrested two years ago in Switzerland on charges that he had sex with a 13-year-old girl while living in California. The Swiss ultimately refused to extradite Polanski and he was set free.
Think Polanski would have served the remainder of his life behind bars had he been sent back to the US?
He might not have seeen a day in prison as it turns out.
The judge overseeing Polanski’s case back in 1978 recommended a mere 90-day sentence. Today, a similar crime would yield four times the sentence or approximately one year behind bars.
And what about Bitar for running an online poker site, once the second largest in the world, which advertised openly on ESPN?
Rape of a minor, it seems, is nowhere near as serious a crime as running an online poker room.
Bitar is facing a maximum prison time of 75 years!
Oh the humanity!
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
