Gary Kaplan had Been in Talks With IRS Prior to Indictment

Sources close to Gambling911.com have confirmed that BetonSports captured founder, Gary Kaplan, had attempted to pay back taxes to the US government prior to indictments handed down against him last July.  Since that time, Kaplan has been on the run.  He was arrested in the Dominican Republic last Wednesday.  BetonSports had a call center located in the Dominican Republic as part of its Jaguar Sports brand.

Numerous charges have been lodged against Mr. Kaplan, including one for tax evasion. 

"An attorney for Gary had met with US officials more than a year-and-a-half ago to try and get the back taxes paid with the IRS," a source tells Gambling911.com.

Kaplan's company, BetonSports, was also named in the indictment though there is every indication to suggest that Kaplan had little to do with the company when it shut down back in July stiffing customers out of millions. 

BetonSports at one time was the second largest US-facing sports betting brand, employing more than 1500 people in the 9-story Mall San Pedro.

"The mall was a ghost town," claims Thomas Jensen of Point-Spreads.com.  The mall was once brimming with chirping BetonSports employees, who helped boost merchant sales.  Jensen visited only last month.  "It is a true shame what has happened there."

It is widely believed that Gary Kaplan arranged for his being taken into custody in the Dominican Republic.  He would also like charges against his brother and sister dropped.  Both are facing a maximum of 20 years in prison, a lawyer for one of the defendants told Gambling911.com last week.

The government was also seeking forfeiture of brother Neil's $752,000 home in Boca Falls, Florida.  

Kaplan's wife returned to Costa Rica this weekend after meeting with her husband briefly following his arrest.

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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com

Originally published April 2, 2007 12:51 pm ET