A Pandora's Box - The Bala Decision

[Premier Turf Club]

From The Thoroughbred Times, this is what can happen when you get into Federal Court...


http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2007/March/07/Appeals-panel-overturns-Bala-federal-conviction.aspx

The ruling also questions whether interstate account wagering violates the federal Wire Act.

“[T]he plain language suggests that Congress intended to prohibit all interstate wagering by wire, whether or not legal in states between which the bets are transmitted,” the rules said. “There is explicit support for this interpretation in the legislative history. … Here the trial record suggests that North Dakota passed the 2001 account wagering statute in an attempt to attract interstate electronic betting. If the reach of [the Wire Act] is as a broad as its legislative history suggests, the attempt if successful will violate federal law. We leave that issue to another day.”





That's why we've pleaded with the tracks to deal with us now before this gets away from us. Like I've said before, the feds are just dying to do something.

[kingfin66]

Is this the same crazy Bala that posted for a time in Off Topic?

[Premier Turf Club]

I wasn't a member of the board theen, so I don't know.

Susan Bala was the former head of Racing Services, Inc. in North Dakota, the first US rebate shop. She was tried and convicted a few years back for illegal activities, but that convinction was reversed by a federal appeals court a few days ago.

[Indulto]

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2007/March/07/Appeals-panel-overturns-Bala-federal-conviction.aspx

["]The ruling also questions whether interstate account wagering violates the federal Wire Act.["]

... That's why we've pleaded with the tracks to deal with us now before this gets away from us. Like I've said before, the feds are just dying to do something.From the article referenced above:… "Rather than pursue possible violations in state court, the commission brought the complicated situation to federal authorities, who then commenced a federal prosecution based upon flawed interpretations of state law," the panel’s ruling said. "The result was a trial at which the government failed to prove any of the offenses charged.”

… The ruling overturned the conviction’s order that Bala pay $19-milion in restitution from $99-million in bets that Racing Services handled between October 2002 and April ’03. The company was liquidated in 2004.

United States Attorney Drew Wrigley told the Associated Press that his office would consider asking for a review from the full appeals court. Charges also could be brought in state court or in a civil lawsuit.So what was all that sensational testimony from ex-RSI employees all about – immunity-induced information?

The entire process is chronicled in the archives here:

http://www.in-forum.com/specials/rsi/ (http://www.in-forum.com/specials/rsi/)

but balance might require going through related articles in the Thoroughbred Times and Associated Press as well.

http://drf.com/news/article/83050.html (http://drf.com/news/article/83050.html)

Dakota gambling conviction overturned
By MATT HEGARTY

… Racing Services was seized by state regulators in 2003 after Bala was charged. The site was officially closed in 2005, and the license to operate account-wagering and offtrack betting in North Dakota was granted to another company, Lien Games.North Dakota politics sounds as plagued by self-interest and racing/gambling disdain as New York. Watch your back, Gentlemen (and Ladies?)

[Pace Cap'n]

Is this the same crazy Bala that posted for a time in Off Topic?

Not likely, as she has been a guest of the Federal Correctional system for the past couple of years.

[kingfin66]

You don't think that inmates have Internet access? I'm sure it probably isn't the same person, but Bala struck me as an unusual name.

[Pace Cap'n]

You don't think that inmates have Internet access?

They most assuredly do not.

[kingfin66]

I was always under the impression that they did, along with cable TV. I guess there could be potential for trouble if they had access. I'm glad to hear they don't. Must be a different Bala :)