Authorities: Anadarko Business Owner Involved In Illegal Internet Casinos

An Anadarko business owner and his wife are in custody after federal agents say they were involved in an illegal multi-million dollar gambling operation.

Tuesday, March 12th 2013, 5:16 pm

By: News 9


An Anadarko business owner and his wife are in custody after federal agents say they were involved in an illegal multi-million dollar gambling operation.

The company, International Internet Technologies, was raided early Tuesday morning by federal agents.

According to a lengthy federal search warrant, the owner of the company, Chase Burns, supplied gambling software to internet casinos in Florida. Federal agents say those casinos were posing as fundraising centers for veteran charities. But the vast majority of the more than $290-million profit was pocketed.

Federal agents call it a conspiracy and scheme to defraud the public into believing that the money spent, and lost at internet casinos went to a charitable organization.

According to the130-page federal search warrant, non-profit organization, Allied Veterans of the World started the alleged fundraising centers in 2007.

But, during the federal investigation, federal agents learned those centers were nothing more than Internet Casinos, that operated like a slot machine, which is a violation of Florida's gambling laws.

Allied Veterans claimed they donated anywhere from 70-percent of their profits between 2007 and 2012. But investigators found evidence only $6-million, or 2-percent of the over $290-million dollars in proceeds went to charity. The rest of that money was allegedly kept by for profit companies, like International Internet Technologies, business owner Chase Burns, and his wife Kristen.

According to authorities Burns cut was 25-percnet, or more than $70 million.

Agents believe International Technologies was the hub of the operation helping to run at least 50 Internet casinos in Florida. At one point, News 9 was told the company had about 40 employees.

News 9 has also learned that Chase Burns is the brother of former Caddo County District Attorney, Brett Burns, and Brett is the attorney for Chase's wife, Kristin. The investigation is being handled by the IRS, and the U.S. secret service with the assistance of a number of agencies, including Florida law enforcement.

Kristin Burns faces one count each of racketeering and conspiracy, and four counts of money laundering.

Agents had International Internet Technologies under surveillance since November of 2011.

Chase Burns has a bond set at $500,000, his wife Kristin's bond is $100,000. Both will have to wear a GPS monitor.

An extradition hearing for the couple has been set for next month. Each are expected to make bond.

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