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Citadel funds seized

18 May 2007

By Aaron Todd

The U.S. Department of Justice has seized $9.25 million in funds from Citadel Commerce, a third-party payment processor that had previously allowed U.S. residents to conduct financial transactions with Internet gambling companies. The Canadian-based company stopped processing U.S. gaming transactions in January, almost immediately after its competitor, NETeller, withdrew from the U.S. following the arrests of its two cofounders.

Another Canadian-based processor, FirePay, announced earlier this week that they have received seizure warrants from the DOJ for about $4.2 million in gaming-related funds. FirePay stopped accepting U.S. gaming transactions following the adoption of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in October.

Citadel had announced in late April that these funds had been frozen by one of its financial transaction processors.

In a separate indictment this week, three payment processors and seven individuals have been accused of miscoding gaming transactions and funneling money to online casinos and sportsbooks. BetUS has been charged with conspiring with the payment processors.
Aaron Todd

During his time away from his Casino City reporter's desk, home-game hot shot Aaron Todd plays in a weekly poker game with his friends in the Boston area. While he is happy to play Texas Hold'em, he'd rather mix it up and include lesser-known games such as Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz, and (his personal favorite) Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw, in the rotation of games.

After graduating from St. Lawrence University in 2000, Aaron worked in media relations for college athletic departments. When he grew tired of long nights and weekends watching college sports in leaky press boxes, he decided to spend long nights and weekends watching professional card players in stuffy poker rooms.

A native of a small town in New York just south of Ottawa, Aaron lives in Norwood, MA, with his wife Wendy. Write to Aaron at aarontodd@casinocity.com.

Aaron Todd Websites:

www.sixtycentmainevent.com