Monday, July 31, 2006

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Several defendants enter not-guilty pleas in BetonSports, Plc. case

By Sarah Polson

Seven of the defendants in the case against BetonSports, Plc. were in court today to plead not-guilty to charges of racketeering and mail and wire fraud.

Neil Kaplan and Lori Kaplan Multz, brother and sister of BetonSports, Plc. founder Gary Kaplan, pleaded not guilty to a 22-count indictment, along with BetonSports employee Tim Brown; owner of Mobile Promotions Inc. William Lenis; Lenis' daughter and son Monica and William Luis Lennis, and his nephew Manny Lenis, who worked for Mobile Promotions.

David Carruthers, former BetonSports, Plc. chief executive, was also supposed to appear in the St. Louis court today, but was still in the process of being transported from Dallas, Texas. A not-guilty plea was entered for him, and he will remain in custody. He was arrested July 17 while on a layover at the Dallas airport and his initial bail hearing was postponed.

BetonSports, Plc. founder Gary Kaplan still remains at large, and no one appeared on behalf of the BetonSports, Plc. corporation.

The U.S. government is alleging that BetonSports, Plc. and its employees took billions of dollars in sports bets from U.S. residents by phone and over the Internet without paying excise taxes. The people connected with Mobile Promotions Inc. are being charged because the company does promotions and marketing for BetonSports, Plc.

The defendants stand to lose a lot in the case as the Department of Justice is seeking $4.5 billion as well as the forfeiture of cars and computers from the defendants.

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