56 year old Richard Lee, a top poker professional, is now facing serious charges in his home town of San Antonio, Texas.
It was confirmed by police that the District Attorney has filed charges for promoting gambling against the WSOP star, which is an illegal act under US law. The US takes a strict view on promoting gambling and seems harsh for us in the UK.
Last year Richard Lee’s home was raided by police, his bank accounts were frozen and his cars were seized amongst other property, after police claimed he was one of the biggest bookmakers in town.
Speaking after the raid to a reporter he said, “Do I engage in illegal gambling? You know I don’t think so.”
Mr Lee was also asked if he was an online bookmaker but he refused to answer saying he didn’t have to.
The charge of promoting gambling can result in a maximum of a year in jail and a fine of $4,000.
Along with Richard Lee four other men have been named in connection with the charges. They are Richard’s son-in-law, 30 year-old Lawrence ‘Larry’ Joseph Davenport, 57 year-old Matthew Colburn Winslow, 31 year-old Marco de Carlo Hernandez and 30 year-old Daniel Ortiz.
District Attorney Susan Reed has filed a civil forfeiture application to permanently confiscate the cash and property seized in last year’s raid on Lee. The application seeks an 80 percent retention by the state of the cash and property. This includes $2.7 million in cash, a 2005 Lexus LX470, a 2005 Mercedes S430, a 2004 Toyota 4Runner and many luxury consumer goods such as electronic goods, fashion accessories and watches.
Richard Lee had a great run at the 2006 World Series of Poker where he reached the final table finishing in sixth place and winning $2.8 million.
At the World Series of Poker event he promoted his home town of San Antonio by wearing a bright red shirt with the name of his home town across it, despite being offered deals from several online poker rooms to wear their shirts.
The allegation of promoting gambling relates to a Costa Rican registered Internet sportsbook called Betbsbnow.com which Lee is said to have operated with the four other men. Throughout the investigation Richard Lee has been referred to as the “biggest bookie” in San Antonio.
The case is due to be conducted in court on 7th November.
