{"id":329380,"date":"2024-09-02T12:02:18","date_gmt":"2024-09-02T17:02:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=329380"},"modified":"2024-09-02T12:02:18","modified_gmt":"2024-09-02T17:02:18","slug":"pro-poker-player-faces-up-to-15-years-in-prison-after-admitting-wrongdoing-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/pro-poker-player-faces-up-to-15-years-in-prison-after-admitting-wrongdoing-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Pro Poker Player Faces Up To 15 Years in Prison After Admitting Wrongdoing — Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

Damien LeForbes<\/a>, a professional poker player who frequented Las Vegas casinos, agreed to a plea deal last week in California federal court.<\/p>\n

\"Damien
Damien LeForbes, pictured above. The pro poker player faces a possible prison sentence after a plea deal. (Image: X)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He faces as much as 15 years behind bars for money laundering and operating an illegal gambling business, according to the Nevada Current<\/em>. He also could be forced to pay up to $500K in fines when he\u2019s eventually sentenced.<\/p>\n

Prosecutors claim he gambled $148M between January 2022 and December 15, 2023 at an unspecified Las Vegas casino.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gambled at Resorts World<\/h2>\n

LeForbes lost about $12.3M in close to 50 visits to Resorts World, the Current<\/em>\u00a0reported.<\/p>\n

But authorities didn\u2019t say if the $148M gaming total was at Resorts World or another gaming property.<\/p>\n

LeForbes also reportedly presented a bad check for $2.5M to Resorts World, according to the\u00a0Current<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In addition, LeForbes used hosts at the unnamed casino to find him customers, Las Vegas TV station KSNV reported. He also was paid in casino chips from gamblers, the report added.<\/strong><\/p>\n

LeForbes additionally operated an illegal sportsbook for at least five years in California, according to KSNV.<\/p>\n

Last month, the Nevada Gaming Control Board<\/a> (NGCB) revealed it wants to financially penalize Resorts World Las Vegas after the casino allegedly let illegal bookmakers gamble without saying from where the money came.<\/p>\n

Bowyer Case<\/h2>\n

Among those named in the NGCB filing was California bookie Mathew Bowyer<\/a>, 49. In August, he pled guilty to operating an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and subscribing to a false tax return.<\/p>\n

He reportedly \u201ctransferred or directed the transfer\u201d of at least $9.3M to Resorts World Las Vegas, according to ESPN.<\/p>\n

Among Bowyer\u2019s customers were pro athletes, and Ippei Mizuhara<\/a>, the man who translated for MLB Los Angeles Dodgers star player Shohei Ohtani<\/a>. Mizuhara stole some $17M from Ohtani to pay off massive gambling debts. Ohtani is seen as a victim.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Also, the NGCB filing named Edwin Ting and Chad Iwamoto. They both were convicted of illicit gambling. Ting is \u201cknown to have ties to organized crime,\u201d the NGCB statement revealed.<\/p>\n

Federal prosecutors haven\u2019t charged Resorts World Las Vegas, the Current<\/em> reported. A casino spokesperson has said the gaming property is cooperating with authorities.<\/p>\n

MGM Resorts is paying $7.5M for violations at both MGM Grand and The Cosmopolitan, according to the\u00a0Current.<\/em> Each signed a non-prosecution agreement with federal authorities, the Current <\/em>revealed.<\/p>\n

LeForbes also owes $1M to The Venetian, the Current<\/em> has reported.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Damien LeForbes, a professional poker player who frequented Las Vegas casinos, agreed to a plea deal last week in California federal court.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":329384,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[88702,81886],"tags":[92198,82370,23],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPro Poker Player Faces Up To 15 Years in Prison After Plea Deal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Damien LeForbes agreed to a plea deal last week in California federal court. 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