Indicted financial processing group pleads not guilty

Hill Financial Services, Gateway Technologies and seven defendants pleaded not guilty yesterday to money laundering, racketeering conspiracy and bank fraud charges, according to U.S. Attorney Brett L. Tolman's office.

Representatives from BetUS.com and CurrenC Worldwide, two other companies charged in the 34-count indictment unsealed earlier this month in Utah, were not present at the arraignment and have not yet been served, U.S. Attorney spokesperson Melodie Rydalch said.

BetUS does not have a presence in the U.S. which is complicating standard serving procedures and U.S. officials are still unsure which person will be charged on behalf of CurrenC Worldwide, Rydalch said.

The seven defendants, Baron Lombardo, 46, Richard Carson-Selman, 51, Henry G. Bankey, 49, Francisco Lombardo, 52, Count C. Lombardo, 43, Tina I. Hill, 32, and Kimberlie Lombardo 43 are all Las Vegas residents.

The group is accused of deceiving credit card companies by mislabeling more than $150 million in U.S.-based online gambling transactions.

The indictment also alleges that at least one U.S. bank official had been bribed to ensure the transactions were miscoded.

The U.S. Attorney is attempting to recover the $150 million under RICO, the federal Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations law.

"Payment processors who attempt to hide the true nature of the transactions they are conducting and the Internet gambling websites that use these payment processors will be prosecuted and brought to justice," said Tolman in a statement.

A trial date has not been set, Rydalch said. The group is scheduled to appear a trial status conference on August 6 in front of Federal Judge Paul Cassell.