Online Poker “Black Friday” Defendant Ira Rubin Ordered Detained

A defendant in the “Black Friday” case against online poker rooms PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and UB.com has been ordered detained by US authorities.

Payment processor Ira Rubin is charged with helping online poker companies find ways to circumvent U.S. laws prohibiting the processing of Internet gambling payments.

Prosecutors noted that Rubin has a lengthy criminal record dating back to the 1970 ‘s that includes an outstanding arrest warrant for contempt of court in a civil case brought by the Federal Trade Commission related to telemarketing fraud.

"I think I have no choice but to detain the defendant," said U.S. Magistrate Judge James L. Cott in Manhattan.

Rubin was also viewed as a potential flight risk. 

The prosecutor claimed that Rubin chartered a plane from Costa Rica to Guatemala on the day the indictment was issued and suggested he could obtain a fake passport there. 

Ten others were charged as part of the indictment including owners of all three companies.  None of the owners have been apprehended. 

- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher

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