Poker leads to bank robbery

[young nut]

Just saw this on the Today show. Apparently this seemingly good kid ran up 5k in online poker debt and he had to pay it back somehow right? heh. Interesting story, not sure if it has been posted yet.

article (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-robber14dec14,1,7125296.story?coll=la-headlines-nation)

[EStreet20]

Hope the kid gets what he deserves. End of story.

[uncleshady]

Up to 20 years and nobody died? Thats crap. He might do 4 and if he's lucky he can get an internet connection at some point...

[young nut]

[ QUOTE ]
Hope the kid gets what he deserves. End of story.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, he definitely deserves some punishment for his actions.

I find some of the quotes from the article about online poker more interesting though.

"Now the 19-year-old son of a Baptist minister faces up to 20 years in prison on bank robbery charges, and his lawyer says the nationwide poker craze is partly to blame."

and

"William N. Thompson, professor of public policy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, isn't among them. Thompson said the poker craze had arrived and Hogan was another of its victims. "It's everywhere and now it's even on the Internet, where there is almost no controls," Thompson said. "You can expect it to get worse, and you can expect to see more and more college students fall into it."

These type of stories are what make online poker seem to be a damage to society. And its even worse when it makes national news. Many politions see things like this and become aware of the negative, but they don't necessarily see the positives. They also see that they aren't making any taxes off the online poker companies.

[uncleshady]

He will deserve more punishment if he blows the lid off non-taxed income...

[jaxUp]

[ QUOTE ]
if he's lucky he can get an internet connection at some point

[/ QUOTE ]
nice

[Losing all]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hope the kid gets what he deserves. End of story.

[/ QUOTE ]


"Now the 19-year-old son of a Baptist minister faces up to 20 years in prison

[/ QUOTE ]


Daddy never told him there'd be SIIHP like this.

[revots33]

wonder if he was a 2+2er.

[B1GF1SHY]

No, he couldn't be. All 2+2'ers are winners!

This is terrible, this gives Poker a black eye, can't tell you how many people sat their and listened to this story on the Today show and not only shook their head and reconfirmed to themselves why they don't gamble. But they also shook their head and said "Yup, that's what anyone who is crazy enough to play poker is capable of doing"

This is why people have laws on the books about "illegal card rooms"

I think the poker community should make an effort to reach out in this situation. Possibly hire the kid a lawyer if the Walderon attorney is a court-appointed, or at least be there for his court date, possibly do a campaign for Wachovia. Something to promote goodwill. I would hope (futily of course) that the online poker site would excuse his debt. Also, maybe someone could teach this kid how to play.

[soko]

Why would they excuse his debt, he commited a felony that warrants 20 years in jail and you think the guy deserves sympathy? It's DEBT, it's not going to kill you, if you handle pressure so horribly that you would rob a bank you are only going to be safe behind bars.

It only reinforces the stupidity of your post that you even mention the possibility that this guy be allowed to play poker agian.

[lehighguy]

My best friend ruined his college over poker, almost killed himself.

But it was his whole personality that was the problem. If it isn't poker it would be booze or something.

[Python49]

this was your friend? just seems coincidental based on your name

[AustinDoug]

When I was in college (pre-intenet poker; pre-internet for that matter) guys would ruin their lives by getting in too deep with bookies.

People who have too much gamble in them are going to find ways to get in to trouble whether poker is around or not. Taking an oversimplistic approach to this problem (as politicans are inclined to do) is a mistake.

If poker were specifically legal and regulated in this country, then maybe these incidents could be reduced.

No, he posts at Neverwin's site.

[ QUOTE ]
Hope the kid gets what he deserves. End of story.

[/ QUOTE ]
And what does he deserve? Jail time, definitely. Ass-whooping, probably, slap across the back of the head, sure. But, don't you think the gang rapes he's going to be subjected to are a bit too much?

[MicroBob]

people are going to find ways to ruin their lives regardless of whether poker or booze or whatever is legal or regulated or not.


python49 - i just assumed that lehighguy went to Lehigh University.

Poker did not lead to this robbery. The kid being a moron led to this robbery

[young nut]

[ QUOTE ]
Poker did not lead to this robbery. The kid being a moron led to this robbery

[/ QUOTE ]

I realize this, as I think we all do. I'm just pointing out the fact that the article makes the conclusion that poker was the catalyst that led up to the robbery, not the fact that he was dumb with money.

[lighterjobs]

[ QUOTE ]
What used to be played by middle-age men in smoky backrooms is being played by college and high school students.

If players can't find a live game, online poker is a mouse click away, and they need only a computer and a credit card whose credit limit hasn't been maxed out.

"It's everywhere and now it's even on the Internet, where there is almost no controls," Thompson said. "You can expect it to get worse, and you can expect to see more and more college students fall into it."

[/ QUOTE ]

this is so ridiculous. if the kid lived down the street from a casino or lost this money to a bookie would it be this big of a deal?

[bobbyi]

[ QUOTE ]
this is so ridiculous. if the kid lived down the street from a casino or lost this money to a bookie would it be this big of a deal?

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, I think a college student (who was seemingly doing well for himself, was class president, was the son of a minister, etc.) robbing a bank in an attempt to pay off secret gambling debts would still be a big deal.

[lighterjobs]

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[ QUOTE ]
this is so ridiculous. if the kid lived down the street from a casino or lost this money to a bookie would it be this big of a deal?

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, I think a college student (who was seemingly doing well for himself, was class president, was the son of a minister, etc.) robbing a bank in an attempt to pay off secret gambling debts would still be a big deal.

[/ QUOTE ]

good point. i forgot about how high profile the kid was at his school. i was thinking this was just another kid going through the motions of college.

[ZenMusician]

Let's hope to see more of these articles!

The government is secretly working on
"Poker Madness." This documentary will show clearly
how playing poker - just one time - will cause
insanity, crime and destruction.

It's good to see propaganda media hasn't lost its fervor!

-ZEN

[ChicagoTroy]

Your header is incorrect. It should read: "Gambling Addict Robs Bank"

Hmm, $5,000 in the hole? I wonder what his VP$IP was.

[iceman5]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hope the kid gets what he deserves. End of story.

[/ QUOTE ]
And what does he deserve? Jail time, definitely. Ass-whooping, probably, slap across the back of the head, sure. But, don't you think the gang rapes he's going to be subjected to are a bit too much?

[/ QUOTE ]

Bank robbery is a federal crime which means he'll be going to federal prison. Federal prisons are nothing like what you see on TV. I would highly doubt he has to worry about being gang raped.

[Python49]

link keeps telling me it got intercepted and i have to register to see it

[lehighguy]

No OP wasn't my friend, I'm talking about a totally different person.

[UATrewqaz]

[ QUOTE ]
Hmm, $5,000 in the hole? I wonder what his VP$IP was.

[/ QUOTE ]

This kid is a total retard?.

5K in debt, so you rob a bank? There are millions of americans with WAAAAAY more debt than that.

This reminds me of some story they told us in college about not running up credit card debt, some girl ran up a debt of like $1,800 and killed herself and the only thing me and the other people in the class could think is

1800??????? WTF? Get a night job for a few months, jesus.

[young nut]

[ QUOTE ]
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Hmm, $5,000 in the hole? I wonder what his VP$IP was.

[/ QUOTE ]

This kid is a total retard?.

5K in debt, so you rob a bank? There are millions of americans with WAAAAAY more debt than that.

This reminds me of some story they told us in college about not running up credit card debt, some girl ran up a debt of like $1,800 and killed herself and the only thing me and the other people in the class could think is

1800??????? WTF? Get a night job for a few months, jesus.

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe this story is the centerpiece story of the upcoming movie "Poker Madness"

[ZenMusician]

[ QUOTE ]
I believe this story is the centerpiece story of the upcoming movie "Poker Madness"

[/ QUOTE ]

I copyrighted my post (about 4 or 5 before yours).
You owe me $500.

-ZEN

I usually don't play the "who is more to blame" game, but this story could have just as easily been written with the primary culprit being credit card companies issuing credit to college students in excess of what they can afford.

[ QUOTE ]
I usually don't play the "who is more to blame" game, but this story could have just as easily been written with the primary culprit being credit card companies issuing credit to college students in excess of what they can afford.

[/ QUOTE ]

How about this. Write it about a kid who has been successful in most endeavors and built up such hubris that he thought he borrow 5 grand to gamble. Then when he failed, he thought it was a better alternative to rob a bank than ask his Baptist preacher dad for help.

He is not a victim of cc companies, online poker sites or anyone else. He is the felon (allegedly).

[lefty rosen]

A gambling addict will lose because he is a gambling addict on tilt. Now if he didn't know he had these tendencies, then that's a different matter. A 5K debt for a student is huge(if it's credit not a student loan), but if he worked over the summer he could eliminate that debt in a few months, his robbing the bank is sign of deep seated issues with compulsion..... /images/graemlins/blush.gif /images/graemlins/frown.gif /images/graemlins/confused.gif /images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[lefty rosen]

Sure corrupt World Com and Enron executives make mean cellmates......... /images/graemlins/blush.gif /images/graemlins/grin.gif /images/graemlins/smile.gif /images/graemlins/shocked.gif /images/graemlins/cool.gif

[young nut]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I believe this story is the centerpiece story of the upcoming movie "Poker Madness"

[/ QUOTE ]

I copyrighted my post (about 4 or 5 before yours).
You owe me $500.

-ZEN

[/ QUOTE ]

I was making reference to your post...you and your damn frivalous lawsuits. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[revots33]

[ QUOTE ]
But the hobby quickly became an addiction that led Hogan to lose about $5,000.

It was that addiction that led him last week into a Wachovia bank in Allentown, where he handed a teller a note and calmly walked out with $2,871 that wasn't his, says his lawyer, John J. Waldron.

[/ QUOTE ]

ROBS A BANK - for 2800 bucks??? Weak-tight.

[young nut]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
But the hobby quickly became an addiction that led Hogan to lose about $5,000.

It was that addiction that led him last week into a Wachovia bank in Allentown, where he handed a teller a note and calmly walked out with $2,871 that wasn't his, says his lawyer, John J. Waldron.

[/ QUOTE ]

ROBS A BANK - for 2800 bucks??? Weak-tight.

[/ QUOTE ]

sounds more like a LAG to me

[Spicymoose]

Damn, the fish pool has shrunk slightly.

What a surprise. The dude's attorney is attempting to shift the blame from this moron to online poker. This kid sounds like on of the many people, oftentimes in college, who are capable of functioning well in a structured environment, but cannot handle the freedom that "real life" brings. I'm a college grad, so pllease don't think I am slamming students or college in general. I'm just saying that I have met numerous people that had super gpa's, but possessed the common sense of a kleenex. I'm guessing that this guy's ego was so fragile that he couldn't admit that he had a problem and had incurred this debt. Rather than just bite the bullet and ask for help, he chose to rob a bank (for less than he owed!). He deserves to sit in prison for a bit to reflect on his idiotic decision. One more thing, regulating online poker won't decrease this type of incident in the least. Examples of regulated items, through which people are still ruining their lives through addition include credit card debt, alcoholism and porn.

[mikewvp]

[ QUOTE ]
This is terrible, this gives Poker a black eye, can't tell you how many people sat their and listened to this story on the Today show and not only shook their head and reconfirmed to themselves why they don't gamble. But they also shook their head and said "Yup, that's what anyone who is crazy enough to play poker is capable of doing"

This is why people have laws on the books about "illegal card rooms"

I think the poker community should make an effort to reach out in this situation. Possibly hire the kid a lawyer if the Walderon attorney is a court-appointed, or at least be there for his court date, possibly do a campaign for Wachovia. Something to promote goodwill. I would hope (futily of course) that the online poker site would excuse his debt. Also, maybe someone could teach this kid how to play.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is ridiculous. It would appear as though the poker community accepts what he did. If anything we should hire a better lawyer to prosecute him for strengthening the negative feelings toward gambling that the average person has. At least ban him from all major poker sites, it would be better to let people understand that we don't want irresponsible poker players in the community, at least that way they won't think we 'prey' on the weak.

[Greg J]

People are forgetting that this kid is 1) rich and 2) white. He will probably serve some time, but not serious time. I doubt they will throw the book at him.

[ QUOTE ]
Examples of regulated items, through which people are still ruining their lives through addition include credit card debt, alcoholism and porn.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm addicted to porn, but I like to think it has improved my life, not ruined its quality. Plus it makes Lucy horny. Sadly, Lucy is my right hand.

[young nut]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Examples of regulated items, through which people are still ruining their lives through addition include credit card debt, alcoholism and porn.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm addicted to porn, but I like to think it has improved my life, not ruined its quality. Plus it makes Lucy horny. Sadly, Lucy is my right hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

Everyone knows that your right hand is Jill. Don't believe me? hold it out in front of you palm down and tell me that you are looking at your favorite Jill in the whole world.

How is this a gambling debt?

Poker sites don't lend money.

as for the $2800 ... Ed Miller says play tight in small pots.

Read a different article on the same story. Apparently his parents posted his bail for him: $100k. Nice. Instead of asking dad for the $5k he blew through, how about getting him to spend 20 times that to get him out of jail?