David Carruthers sentenced for his part in the BetOnSports affair

In a further development in the BetOnSports scandal, Edinburgh born, former Chief Executive, David Carruthers has been jailed for 33 months by the US Justice Department. In our article of November 8th last year we reported the sentencing of Gary Kaplan to 4 years and 3 months jail and against this background Mr Carruthers pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and racketeering. Mr Carruthers who was hired in 2000 led a listing on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM before being named a director of the company in 2004; he was arrested at Dallas Airport in 2006 on the way to Costa Rica where the company was based and has spent the last three years under house arrest in Missouri.
In a clear warning to other illegal operations the Assistant US Attorney Steven Holtshouser said “Previously, executives, owners and investors believed that they were immune from the reach of US law enforcement. Both the conviction of and sentence handed down against Mr Carruthers should send a message to any foreign business conducting illegal activities in the United States, that geography does not render it untouchable”.
It seems that the enforcement agencies have been determined to wrap this one up as a deterrent to others.