Jay Cohen, who ran a sports betting business on the World Wide Web, has been found guilty in what's considered the first case of its kind to go to trial. Cohen was convicted by Manhattan jury of accepting bets and wagers on sports over the Net and telephone, violating U.S. law.
The San Franciscan who is president of World Sports Exchange in Antigua was the first to go on trial in the U.S. for running a Net sports gambling. Cohen was one of 22 defendants charged two years ago with running offshore companies taking American bets on the Web or toll-free phone numbers, the Associated Press says.
Under federal law, the Internet can't be used for sports betting. Ten of the defendants pleaded guilty, the AP says. Cohen's attorney, Ben Brafman, plans to appeal the conviction, with Cohen set for a May 23 sentencing.
