BetOnSports founder flight risk, say prosecutors

U.S. prosecutors say BetOnSports founder Stephen Kaplan planned to escape to a country that would not extradite him when he was found at a Dominican Republic airport in March with a handcuff key, five passports and cash from four countries, the Associated Press is reporting.

Kaplan shouldn't be released before his racketeering and fraud trial, say prosecutors.

Lawyers for the former head of the London-based bookmaker asked the judge for more time to respond to the allegations.

BetOnSports officials pleaded guilty on behalf of the company Thursday to a racketeering conspiracy charge, however Kaplan and CEO David Carruthers still face charges.

Kaplan had large sums of cash from countries where extradition is difficult, a detailed plan to win diplomatic protection in Nicuragua outlined in a notebook and passports with different names and places of birth, the AP reports.

He also has $107 million in assets and multiple bank accounts, according to the prosecutors office.

The judge has not set a trial date.

courtesy of Erin Warner

News Added: 29 May, 2007

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