Judge Won’t Accept Guilty Plea in Online Poker Case

Just one day after banker John Campos entered into a guilty plea connected to the processing of payments for three large online poker rooms, a judge has disallowed the guilty plea.

U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan ordered prosecutors to explain in writing why they let former St. George banker plead guilty to a misdemeanor bank gambling charge rather than a felony, averting a trial next month.

Campos was charged along with others in connection with the processing of gambling funds for Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars and UB.com on April 15, 2011.  Executives from both Full Tilt Poker and Stars remain at large and face counts of money laundering and bank fraud.

"You're basically walking away from the prosecution?" Kaplan asked.

Judge Kaplan noted that Campos was accused of what he considered to be a “severe” crime, processing $200 million in gambling proceeds between late 2009 and last year.

The judge said he will decide whether to accept the plea at a June 27 sentencing.  Potentially this case could still go to trial.

- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher