JAY COHEN IS AN ICON I'LL NEVER FORGET
Jay Cohen at Nellis Federal Prison Camp, February 28, 2003.
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=-2]Photo by Aaron Mayes/Las Vegas Sun [/size][/font]
written June 4th, 2005 by The Shrink
Unedited version...
Many years ago, Jay Cohen was at the top of his game. As the founder of World Sports Exchange, Jay was one of the first pioneers involved in the offshore sports betting industry. His vision has always been brilliant, as he recognized the power of the Internet before all of his competitors did.
When I first became involved back in the mid nineties, I looked to Jay for leadership, camaraderie, and knowledge. He was always willing to help me out on a business and even a personal level. To be blunt, Jay Cohen was my #1 mentor back then.
Suddenly, at the pinnacle of his career, Jay was indicted for gaming-related offenses.
In March of 1998, Jay was charged with violations of 18 U.S. C. § 1084 (the “Wire Act”) in connection with his operation of World Sports Exchange (“WSE”), an Internet-based sports book, in Antigua. Upon learning of the charges, Jay voluntarily returned to the United States from Antigua.
Jay's biggest mistake was returning home to the United States and believing he would receive a fair trial. The reason I can say this with certainty is because I attended this debacle in New York.
For those of you who are newer to this industry, Jay was found guilty on August 2, 2000 and sentenced to prison for 21 months, which was to be followed by two years of supervised release. At the time, the federal sentencing guidelines were mandatory.
Since Mr. Cohen and a handful of other individuals were indicted for violations of the Wire Act in 1998, the gaming industry – including Internet wagering on sports – has continued to flourish. Although the U.S. Department of Justice maintains, as a matter of policy, that online casino and sports wagering violates the Wire Act, prosecutions have been notably limited. In addition, with respect to the other 20 individuals charged in March 1998 alongside Jay Cohen, the dispositions of the cases reflect a profound disparity in treatment. While Jay has served a 21-month term of imprisonment, four individuals saw their charges dismissed, and all others who were convicted received probationary sentences.
More alarming is that Jay remains under supervision and is still not free, although The World Trade Organization recently ruled that the same law used against Jay Cohen, commonly known as the WIRE ACT, could no longer be used as a tool to indict or imprison anyone running foreign-based gambling operations, such as the World sports Exchange. Furthermore, the United States unsuccessfully appealed this ruling which was upheld on April 7, 2005.
Given the above facts, one has to wonder why Jay Cohen is still not a Free Man? I know for a fact that Jay was a model citizen while incarcerated and has not violated any conditions of his parole.
With the rising popularity and world wide acceptance of online Poker, to go along with the acceptance of online lotteries and pari-mutuel horse racing, why hasn't Jay Cohen been released?
Although I can't answer many of the underlying agendas behind this case, I can speak out about Jay's character. Jay Cohen inspired me to enter this industry when I listened to him speak at the First International Symposium on Internet Gambling Law and Management back in the mid-nineties.
Jay is still my mentor though many have never heard of him due to the exponential growth and blistering pace of online gambling. He represents everything white in what is perceived by some to be gray. Jay has always been the top visionary this industry has ever seen, as he understood the needs of online gamblers nearly a decade before others did.
It would be a tragedy not to give credit and gratitude to the only man brave enough to fight the United States when everyone else ran for cover or made plea bargains. Although Jay lost the battle, he won the war. All eyes were focused on his trial back then, mine included, The deck was stacked but one and possibly two jurors held out as long as possible despite the Judge's instructions, which were harsh.
Jay deserves a better fate once his is free. There are not enough accolades to describe this man. He is that brilliant. Everyone who has met him knows this. I cannot even begin to imagine what it must be like for Jay to see his vision unfolding and him not being able to participate in something he started and enjoyed as much as the rest of us, possiibly more...
I can't wait for Jay Cohen to be set free. None of the other industry leaders have ever meant the same to me as Jay has.
THE SHRINK
Jay Cohen at Nellis Federal Prison Camp, February 28, 2003.
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=-2]Photo by Aaron Mayes/Las Vegas Sun [/size][/font]
written June 4th, 2005 by The Shrink
Unedited version...
Many years ago, Jay Cohen was at the top of his game. As the founder of World Sports Exchange, Jay was one of the first pioneers involved in the offshore sports betting industry. His vision has always been brilliant, as he recognized the power of the Internet before all of his competitors did.
When I first became involved back in the mid nineties, I looked to Jay for leadership, camaraderie, and knowledge. He was always willing to help me out on a business and even a personal level. To be blunt, Jay Cohen was my #1 mentor back then.
Suddenly, at the pinnacle of his career, Jay was indicted for gaming-related offenses.
In March of 1998, Jay was charged with violations of 18 U.S. C. § 1084 (the “Wire Act”) in connection with his operation of World Sports Exchange (“WSE”), an Internet-based sports book, in Antigua. Upon learning of the charges, Jay voluntarily returned to the United States from Antigua.
Jay's biggest mistake was returning home to the United States and believing he would receive a fair trial. The reason I can say this with certainty is because I attended this debacle in New York.
For those of you who are newer to this industry, Jay was found guilty on August 2, 2000 and sentenced to prison for 21 months, which was to be followed by two years of supervised release. At the time, the federal sentencing guidelines were mandatory.
Since Mr. Cohen and a handful of other individuals were indicted for violations of the Wire Act in 1998, the gaming industry – including Internet wagering on sports – has continued to flourish. Although the U.S. Department of Justice maintains, as a matter of policy, that online casino and sports wagering violates the Wire Act, prosecutions have been notably limited. In addition, with respect to the other 20 individuals charged in March 1998 alongside Jay Cohen, the dispositions of the cases reflect a profound disparity in treatment. While Jay has served a 21-month term of imprisonment, four individuals saw their charges dismissed, and all others who were convicted received probationary sentences.
More alarming is that Jay remains under supervision and is still not free, although The World Trade Organization recently ruled that the same law used against Jay Cohen, commonly known as the WIRE ACT, could no longer be used as a tool to indict or imprison anyone running foreign-based gambling operations, such as the World sports Exchange. Furthermore, the United States unsuccessfully appealed this ruling which was upheld on April 7, 2005.
Given the above facts, one has to wonder why Jay Cohen is still not a Free Man? I know for a fact that Jay was a model citizen while incarcerated and has not violated any conditions of his parole.
With the rising popularity and world wide acceptance of online Poker, to go along with the acceptance of online lotteries and pari-mutuel horse racing, why hasn't Jay Cohen been released?
Although I can't answer many of the underlying agendas behind this case, I can speak out about Jay's character. Jay Cohen inspired me to enter this industry when I listened to him speak at the First International Symposium on Internet Gambling Law and Management back in the mid-nineties.
Jay is still my mentor though many have never heard of him due to the exponential growth and blistering pace of online gambling. He represents everything white in what is perceived by some to be gray. Jay has always been the top visionary this industry has ever seen, as he understood the needs of online gamblers nearly a decade before others did.
It would be a tragedy not to give credit and gratitude to the only man brave enough to fight the United States when everyone else ran for cover or made plea bargains. Although Jay lost the battle, he won the war. All eyes were focused on his trial back then, mine included, The deck was stacked but one and possibly two jurors held out as long as possible despite the Judge's instructions, which were harsh.
Jay deserves a better fate once his is free. There are not enough accolades to describe this man. He is that brilliant. Everyone who has met him knows this. I cannot even begin to imagine what it must be like for Jay to see his vision unfolding and him not being able to participate in something he started and enjoyed as much as the rest of us, possiibly more...
I can't wait for Jay Cohen to be set free. None of the other industry leaders have ever meant the same to me as Jay has.
THE SHRINK
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