Agencies Beware of Crackdown
Jul 27 2006
Advertising Age reports that “Promotion Firms Caught in Internet Gambling Crackdown.” The article speaks for itself, so I’ll only add the comment that the U.S. government is watching you no matter how big or small you are so don’t mess with smuggling cars to Costa Rica as part of the compensation package.
The article continues, “DME Global Marketing & Fulfillment, Direct Mail Expertise and Mobile Promotions and four of its principals — William Hernon Lenis; his son William Luis Lenis and daughter Monica Lenis; and Manny Gustavo Lenis, a nephew — were named in an indictment unsealed yesterday accusing BetOnSports and its principals of illegally engaging in internet gambling and tax evasion.
Racketeering conspiracy
The indictment, issued in St. Louis, charges the ad execs and their companies with engaging in a racketeering conspiracy, saying they worked to illegally advertise and support several websites by buying ads, sending equipment and prizes for the site to Costa Rica and eventually serving as the fulfillment house for internet-gambling prizes.
Among examples of the support given in the indictment: a $99,620 check sent Sept. 6, 2000, to American Media Communications for advertising and the shipment of two cars from the U.S. to Costa Rica.
The indictment says the conspiracy was intended “to develop a scheme to defraud gamblers in the United States by inviting, inducing and persuading them to place bets … As part of the scheme the members and associates [involved] created and disseminated advertising through the United States which falsely stated that internet gambling on sporting events and contests was ‘legal and licensed.’ The enterprise used radio and television to deliver fraudulent advertising through broadcasts and cablecasts in and across the United States.”
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