LAS VEGAS (AP) — A federal judge has thrown out evidence collected by FBI agents who posed as Internet repairmen during a Las Vegas Strip illegal bookmaking investigation, and is giving prosecutors until Friday to decide whether to drop criminal charges altogether.
Defense lawyer David Chesnoff said Tuesday the ruling by U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon in Las Vegas almost completely undercuts the case against Malaysian businessman Wei Seng "Paul" Phua.
Chesnoff says Gordon's ruling leaves no evidence from anywhere proving Phua did anything wrong.
A spokeswoman says U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden is traveling and isn't immediately available for comment.
Prosecutors this month added conspiracy charges to illegal bookmaking allegations against Phua.
He has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled June 1.
Phua has been in Las Vegas under home confinement since his arrest last July.
