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September 1st 2006
Police raid house of Richard Lee (6th in WSOP main-event)
Was this the most controversial final table in World Series history? Not for the poker that is, but for the behaviour of the players off the felt. World Champion Jamie Gold is currently being sued for half his winnings after allegedly reneging on a deal, and now it has emerged that Richard Lee, the much-liked sixth placed finisher, is being investigated for illegal gambling.
According to reports Richard Lee had been the subject of a long-running investigation into illegal Internet gambling since long before the World Series began. Now as a result of that investigation police have seized a large quantity of his property.
“Our vice detectives have been conducting a comprehensive investigation and they believe proceeds from illegal gambling have bought a lot of items in this house," police spokesman Joe Rios told a San Antonio Television Station. "Anytime we have that type of investigation that leads us to believe there's illegal property in the house we have authority to seize it. We’re taking all the vehicles and the property inside the house.”
Police reported finding dozens of receipts for gambling winnings in Lee’s house, totalling in excess of $500,000 and also say they seized large quantities of cash as well as five Lexus cars. However it is not yet clear whether Lee is thought to have been operating a gambling site, or simply winning money on illegal sites.
The news of Lee’s arrest will come as a particular surprise to WSOP observers who might remember him as the only player not to accept a sponsorship deal before the final table. At the time Lee said: “The only thing I’m endorsing is God, my family and the city of San Antonio. There wasn’t enough money they could give me to change my mind on that.”
The question that now arises is: if the authorities are able to prove Lee’s WSOP main-event buy-in was gotten with illegal funds, then will his $2.8 million winnings be appropriated as well? If so the consequences could be serious for future poker tournaments. Perhaps entry via online poker rooms might even become a thing of the past, as any American who their buy-in online could have their winnings confiscated.
Watch this space.
Submitted: 01/09/2006 10:52:18
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