US Files Another Charge Against Bitar, Lederer

Almost 18 months after the Black Friday saga stunned the US online poker community, Department of Justice officials filed more charges against Full Tilt Poker founder Ray Bitar and poker pro Howard Lederer.

Charges mount

The US DoJ's latest accusations against Bitar and Lederer include allege violation of the Travel Act, a little known law that apparently holds big penalties. It adds to counts against the two disgraced poker men of bank and wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and illegal gambling.

Regarding Lederer, the DoJ alleges that more than $44 million "associated with criminal conduct" was credited to Lederer's bank accounts between 2006 and the days following Black Friday. It also charges him with purchasing luxury cars including a Maserati Gran Turismo from the funds of online poker players.

J Todd: 'Scumbags'

Our friend J Todd summed it up best in his weekly online gambling review, calling the two men "scumbags" who allegedly violated the little known Travel Act by using player funds to buy themselves big houses and exotic cars.

"I'm still wondering if they're going to try to pay their way out of this mess with a nice fat cheque to the US Department of Justice, or if they might actually see some jail time," Todd said. All online poker players and viewers are wondering the same thing right now.