Prosecutors won’t appeal Paul Phua’s case dismissal

The saga ends, as federal prosecutors decided not to appeal U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon’s dismissal of an illegal gambling case against Paul Phua.

Nevada U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden told Las Vegas Review Journal on Thursday that the government will not be appealing the decision to the Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, even though they disagree with Gordon’s ruling.

Phua was one of eight individuals arrested in July 2014 for allegedly operating an illegal online sportsbook out of three luxury villas at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. But the justification supporting the government’s search warrants was called into question after the FBI’s tactics were revealed.

In February, Gordon ruled the FBI’s tactics in obtaining evidence is illegal and thus all evidence obtained from Phua’s villa was inadmissible, eventually tossed remaining evidence and dismissed the case.