Unites States v. Pokerstars, et al

Filing 52

ARREST WARRANT IN REM issued against All funds and other property on deposit in the listed accounts of this warrant on 9/20/2011. (Signed by Judge Judge Leonard B. Sand on 9/19/2011) (jar)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,

ARREST W ARRANT IN REM

11 Civ. 2564 (LBS)

- v. ­

POKERSTARS; FULL TILT POKER;
ABSOLUTE POKER; ULTIMATE BET;
OLDFORD GROUP LTD.; RATIONAL
ENTERTAINMENT ENTERI)RISES LTD.; PYR
SOFTWARE LTD.; STELEKRAM LTD.;
SPHENE INTERNATIONAL LTD.; TILTWARE
LLC; KOLYMA CORPORATION A.V.V.;
POCKET KINGS LTD.; POCKET KINGS
CONSULTING LTD.; FILCO LTD.; VANTAGE
LTD.; RANSTON LTD.; MAIL MEDIA LTD.;
FULL TILT POKER LTD.; SGS SYSTEMS INC.;
TRUST SERVICES LTD; FIDUCIA
EXCHANGE LTD.; BLUE WATER SERVICES
LTD.; ABSOLUTE ENTERTAINMENT, S.A.;
and BLANCA GAMES, INC. OF ANTIGUA;
RAYMOND BITAR; HOWARD LEDERER;
CHRISTOPHER FERGUSON, a/k/a "JESUS;"
and RAFAEL FURST.
Defendants;
ALL RIGHT, TITLE AND INTEREST IN THE
ASSETS OF POKERSTARS; FULL TILT
POKER; ABSOLUTE POKER; ULTIMATE
BET; OLDFORD GROUP LTD.; RATIONAL
ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD.; PYR
SOFTWARE LTD.; STELEKRAM LTD.;
SPHENE INTERNATIONAL LTD.; TIL TW ARE
LLC; KOLYMA CORPORATION A.V.V.;
POCKET KINGS LTD.; POCKET KINGS
CONSULTING LTD.; FILCO LTD.; VANTAGE
LTD.; RANSTON LTD.; MAIL MEDIA LTD.;
FULL TILT POKER LTD.; SGS SYSTEMS INC.;
TRUST SERVICES LTD; FIDUCIA
EXCHANGE LTD.; BLUE WATER SERVICES
LTD.; ABSOLUTE ENTERTAINMENT, S.A.;

iFuSDS SDNY

JI~CUMENT

i~C#l~ONICALLY

.
FILED

DATE FILED: q - {}. 0-/ I

and BLANCA GAMES, INC. OF ANTIGUA;

INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE

PROPERTIES LISTED IN SCHEDULE A, SUCH

AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE DOMAIN

NAMES POKERSTARS.COM;

FULLTILTPOKER.COM;

ABSOLUTEPOKER.COM;

ULTIMATEBET.COM; and UB.COM;

ALL RIGHT, TITLE, AND INTEREST IN THE

PROPERTIES LISTED IN SCHEDULE B; and

ALL RIGHT, TITLE, AND INTEREST IN THE

PROPERTIES LISTED IN SCHEDULE C

Defendants-in-rem.

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TO: ANY DESIGNATED OFFICER OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
AND/OR ANY LA W ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AUTHORIZED BY LAW
WHEREAS, on September 19, 2011, the United States filed an amended
complaint, verified by Special Agent Royal Pollitt of the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation,
alleging that the property described below is subject to civil forfeiture pursuant to: (1) 18 U.S.c.
§ 981(a)(1)(C) as property constituting or derived from proceeds traceable to violations of
specified unlawful activities, to wit: operating an illegal gambling business (18 U .S.c. § 1955),
wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343), and bank fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1344); and (2) 18 U.S.C. §
981(a)(1)(A) as property involved in, or traceable to, money laundering transactions in violation
of18 U.S.c. §§ 1956 and 1957.
WHEREAS, the Court has reviewed the verified complaint and finds, in
accordance with Rule G(3)(b)(ii) ofthe Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty or Maritime
Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions (the "Supplemental Rules"), that (1) the Court has
jurisdiction to issue this warrant pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1355(a), 1355(b)(1)(A) and 1355(d);
and (2) the verified complaint alleges probable cause that the property described below is subject
to seizure and forfeiture pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C) as property constituting or derived
from proceeds traceable to violations of 18 U.S.c. §§ 1343, 1344, and 1955; and pursuant to 18
U.S.C. § 981(a)(1 )(A) as property involved in, or traceable to, money laundering transactions in
violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 and 1957;

2

YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED AND AUTHORIZED to seize the property
described below by personally serving a copy of this arrest warrant in rem upon any person
presently in possession of such property:
All funds and other property on deposit in account numbered GB81 RBOS 6095
4234087766 held at NatWest, in the name of Raymond Bitar, and all funds
traceable thereto;
All funds and other property on deposit in account numbered 7655741861 held at
Wells Fargo Bank N.A. in the name of HH Lederer Consulting LLC, and all funds
traceable thereto; and
All funds and other property on deposit in account numbered
GB56LOYD30166314010402 held at Lloyds TSB International, Isle of Mann, in
the name of Howard Lederer, and all funds traceable thereto;
All funds and other property on deposit in account numbered 40039049628 held
at Citibank N.A., in the name of Chris Ferguson, and all funds traceable thereto;
and
Account numbered CH87 0875 505706840010 0 held at Pictet & Co Bankers,
Switzerland, in the name of Telamonian Ajax Trust, and all funds traceable
thereto.
YOU ARE FURTHER COMMANDED AND AUTHORIZED to prepare a
written inventory of the property seized and promptly return this warrant and inventory before
this Court as required by law.
Dated: New York, New York
2011
September

-Fl,

HONORABLE LEONARD B. SAND
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

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