Maryland prosecutors pursue Bodog extradition

A Baltimore City Paper report said Maryland Prosecutors’ stalled case against Bodog Entertainment Group, its founder Calvin Ayre and Bodog executives James Phillip, David Ferguson and Derrick Maloney continues with extradition processes being pursued.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Kay reportedly docketed a letter addressed to presiding officer U.S. District Judge Catherine Blake on the case’s status, earlier this week.

The case goes back to early 2012 where authorities indicted the group for unlawfully conducting, financing, managing, supervising, directing, and owning all or part of an illegal gambling business involving online sports betting in violation of the laws of the State of Maryland from 2005 to early 2012. The group were additionally charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering (See previous reports).

At the time, Ayre maintained “it is clear that the online gaming industry is legal under international law” and called the indictment an “abuse of the U.S. criminal justice system.”

Kay wrote that the U.S. Attorney’s office will continue to seek a resolution that will not require extradition of the defendants, but that ”in the meantime, I am pursuing extradition”.

Given that the extradition process can take a number of years, Kay suggested that the administrative process on the case be closed to clear the court role “until there is a need for further proceedings”.

Ayre and the other defendants are believed to be currently residing between Canada and Antigua.