--There always seems to be something about this operation, now there's this article in addition to the heavy fines they were given recently by as the FCC brought them down for other BS, they are far from OK!!
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Former star athlete George Atiyeh of Allentown, convicted of gambling charges 19 months ago, is facing new federal charges involving bankruptcy fraud.
A federal grand jury accused Atiyeh on Wednesday of embezzling about $280,000 from his real estate business, which was supposed to be under the control of a bankruptcy court.
Atiyeh said Wednesday he didn't know about the charges. ''It sounds absurd and bizarre,'' he said. ''I have no idea what they're even talking about.''
He called the charges ''frivolous'' and accused federal prosecutors of a ''witch hunt'' against him. ''It seems like the government is trying to scrutinize everything I've done.''
Atiyeh was supposed to report to federal prison in March 2003 to serve a 15-month sentence for the gambling conviction. But a federal judge allowed him to remain free until an appeals court rules on the case. That appeal is still pending.
In the bankruptcy case, the grand jury charged him with embezzlement from a bankruptcy estate and concealment of bankruptcy estate assets. That means he allegedly took money that could have gone to pay creditors and tried to hide his actions.
According to the indictment, he was the president and co-owner of Quality Realty Construction Inc. when it sold a downtown Allentown building in 1996 for $425,000. The new owner agreed to make 60 monthly payments ending in 2001.
In February 1997, Quality Realty filed for bankruptcy protection, meaning a bankruptcy court would have to approve withdrawals from the company's bank accounts.
But from March 1997 to August 2000, Atiyeh allegedly made withdrawals totaling $280,000 that were not authorized by the bankruptcy court. The bankruptcy court had not authorized any withdrawals, except to attorneys.
To conceal funds, according to the indictment, Atiyeh submitted false monthly financial reports to the bankruptcy court. He allegedly created false inflated account balances by writing checks with insufficient funds.
If convicted of bankruptcy fraud, Atiyeh could be given a prison term and a fine.
On Wednesday, Atiyeh said the investigators could have dealt with the issues by asking him questions about the bankruptcy case.
''It seems to me like there's a lot of confusion and once the confusion is resolved we can come to the bottom of this,'' he said. ''It seems to me that an issue like this could have been resolved out of court.
''As far as I know, I'm innocent of all the charges. … Anybody who knows me knows I'm not going to do anything intentionally to harm anybody. That's not the way I was raised.''
Atiyeh, 45, was a star wrestler and football player at Dieruff High School and Louisiana State University. He later played briefly for several professional football teams.
He also is known for renovating old buildings, then selling or leasing them. In addition, he owned Allentown's Acorn Hotel.
This is the second time that the U.S. attorney's office in Philadelphia has pursued charges against him.
In September 2002, he was convicted of 15 criminal counts involving his sports betting business. After a two-week trial, the jury convicted him of running a gambling business in violation of Pennsylvania law, using telephone lines to take bets, conspiracy and money laundering.
Atiyeh advertised his business, International Casino, as an offshore operation in the Caribbean, where gambling is legal. But he also had an office in Pennsylvania, where such sports betting is illegal.
International Casino accepted bets on college and professional sports, taking in more than $1 million in 14 months from 1995 to 1997, according to prosecutors.
A judge dismissed more than half of the convictions, then ordered the 15-month prison term.
A year earlier, his brothers, Dennis and Joseph, were cleared of gambling-related charges in the same courthouse.
Email this article
Printer friendly page
Former star athlete George Atiyeh of Allentown, convicted of gambling charges 19 months ago, is facing new federal charges involving bankruptcy fraud.
A federal grand jury accused Atiyeh on Wednesday of embezzling about $280,000 from his real estate business, which was supposed to be under the control of a bankruptcy court.
Atiyeh said Wednesday he didn't know about the charges. ''It sounds absurd and bizarre,'' he said. ''I have no idea what they're even talking about.''
He called the charges ''frivolous'' and accused federal prosecutors of a ''witch hunt'' against him. ''It seems like the government is trying to scrutinize everything I've done.''
Atiyeh was supposed to report to federal prison in March 2003 to serve a 15-month sentence for the gambling conviction. But a federal judge allowed him to remain free until an appeals court rules on the case. That appeal is still pending.
In the bankruptcy case, the grand jury charged him with embezzlement from a bankruptcy estate and concealment of bankruptcy estate assets. That means he allegedly took money that could have gone to pay creditors and tried to hide his actions.
According to the indictment, he was the president and co-owner of Quality Realty Construction Inc. when it sold a downtown Allentown building in 1996 for $425,000. The new owner agreed to make 60 monthly payments ending in 2001.
In February 1997, Quality Realty filed for bankruptcy protection, meaning a bankruptcy court would have to approve withdrawals from the company's bank accounts.
But from March 1997 to August 2000, Atiyeh allegedly made withdrawals totaling $280,000 that were not authorized by the bankruptcy court. The bankruptcy court had not authorized any withdrawals, except to attorneys.
To conceal funds, according to the indictment, Atiyeh submitted false monthly financial reports to the bankruptcy court. He allegedly created false inflated account balances by writing checks with insufficient funds.
If convicted of bankruptcy fraud, Atiyeh could be given a prison term and a fine.
On Wednesday, Atiyeh said the investigators could have dealt with the issues by asking him questions about the bankruptcy case.
''It seems to me like there's a lot of confusion and once the confusion is resolved we can come to the bottom of this,'' he said. ''It seems to me that an issue like this could have been resolved out of court.
''As far as I know, I'm innocent of all the charges. … Anybody who knows me knows I'm not going to do anything intentionally to harm anybody. That's not the way I was raised.''
Atiyeh, 45, was a star wrestler and football player at Dieruff High School and Louisiana State University. He later played briefly for several professional football teams.
He also is known for renovating old buildings, then selling or leasing them. In addition, he owned Allentown's Acorn Hotel.
This is the second time that the U.S. attorney's office in Philadelphia has pursued charges against him.
In September 2002, he was convicted of 15 criminal counts involving his sports betting business. After a two-week trial, the jury convicted him of running a gambling business in violation of Pennsylvania law, using telephone lines to take bets, conspiracy and money laundering.
Atiyeh advertised his business, International Casino, as an offshore operation in the Caribbean, where gambling is legal. But he also had an office in Pennsylvania, where such sports betting is illegal.
International Casino accepted bets on college and professional sports, taking in more than $1 million in 14 months from 1995 to 1997, according to prosecutors.
A judge dismissed more than half of the convictions, then ordered the 15-month prison term.
A year earlier, his brothers, Dennis and Joseph, were cleared of gambling-related charges in the same courthouse.
I missed ESB threads.
I think we have a picture of Dennis A talking to ESB customers:
I think we have a picture of Dennis A talking to ESB customers:
Still here. I am going to do my best to warn people about these scum bags. The best thing about ESB ripping me off was being able to find this message board. I just tried to go to their website right now, and guess what? It's down.
Telebet.com
I just can't believe their phone service is still up.
Telebet.com
I just can't believe their phone service is still up.
OMG...just went back to their webpage, and it came back up.
My bad.
Here's a quate from their webpage...
"Conducting financial transactions with ESB is easy and safe. Click on the links above to explore how you can easily conduct business with us. Keep your money safe; keep it offshore; keep it with ESB."
What a joke.
My bad.
Here's a quate from their webpage...
"Conducting financial transactions with ESB is easy and safe. Click on the links above to explore how you can easily conduct business with us. Keep your money safe; keep it offshore; keep it with ESB."
What a joke.
Thank you to all above who took the time to reply to my ESB posting. I, too, find it most interesting that they still are in business, and have current website & phones. While I (finally) got MINE, it took a VERY long time and many,many lies and delays. Oh well, that's the way they operate.
Well it happen to me as I was unaware of watchdog sites like this one. Damn, I feel pissed off whenever I get a postcard from them or a message promoting ESB. It just makes me Ill to hear their name anywhere.
STAY AWAY FROM ESB AS IT'S A DEPOSIT BOOK ONLY, THEY NEVER PAY OUT!!!!! If you send them any Money they will STEAL IT. Trust me folks as it happen to me.
STAY AWAY FROM ESB AS IT'S A DEPOSIT BOOK ONLY, THEY NEVER PAY OUT!!!!! If you send them any Money they will STEAL IT. Trust me folks as it happen to me.
