BetED indictee sentenced to two years probation
David Parchomchuk accepts responsibility for role as software programmer with illegal gambling business.
David Parchomchuk, one of three individuals named in last May’s ‘Blue Monday’ indictments, has received a sentence of two years’ probation after pleading guilty to conducting an illegal gambling business.
Parchomchuk was named in association with BetED, one of the operators to have its dot.com domain seized last year following an operation involving undercover payment processor business Linwood Payment Solutions.
He was indicted along with BetED’s Darren Wright and Ann Marie Puig of Bookmaker.com owner BMX Entertainment, but maintained “ through his legal team “ that he was a software programmer rather than the owner of the company.
Jeff Ifrah, Parchomchuk’s legal counsel, told eGaming Review today that “My client accepts full responsibility for his role as a programmer for an illegal gambling operation, and made the responsible choice to come forward and resolve this proactively.
“While the indictment of a software professional is an unprecedented step by the DoJ, we are nonetheless happy to see this case come to a final resolution. It was apparent to both the prosecution and the judge that my client played a relatively minor role in the organization and had no executive control, and we’re happy to see the sentence reflect that.”
As part of the plea agreement he has forfeited claims to three bank accounts named in the original affidavit supporting the indictment. Ifrah explained that his client “Had absolutely no financial control or ownership [and] as a formality he was asked to disavow any interest in related bank accounts.” A nominal fine was also issued, totaling $100.
According to sports betting blog David Purdum Sports, Parchomchuk’s sentence was lower than the maximum possible penalty of five years in prison, a subsequent term of up to three years’ supervised release, and a fine of US$250,000 due to his guilty plea and agreement to expose the role played by Wright, who is set to make his initial arraignment appearance on 16 July.
BetED was forced to close in May last year, a matter of days after Wright and Parchomchuk were indicted and bank accounts were seized.