"Petite" Fossilman Testifies Against His Attackers

[BS Yee]

From today's LVRJ:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_ho.../26703136.html

Poker champion details heist attempt at Bellagio

Raymer describes confrontation with two men in hotel hall


One of the nation's best poker players told in court Friday how he fended off two robbers trying to steal his $150,000 in gambling chips during an ill-advised attack at Bellagio last year.

Greg "Fossilman" Raymer said he was returning to his hotel room at the Strip resort on Dec. 20 at 2 a.m. with $150,000 in chips in a duffle bag when authorities allege Kevin R. Joy, 35, and Deem Cassim, 31, tried to jump him and force him into his room.

"I knew it was a bad idea to let two criminals shove you into the room," Raymer said. "I'm in fear for my safety, my life, my money, everything."

So Raymer, a petite 330 pounds himself, fought back.

He started screaming for help and swinging his arms and elbows around like an NBA rebounder in the paint in the hotel's hallway, prompting the smaller attacker, Cassim, to pull out a lengthy firearm.

"We just want the money," Raymer said Cassim told him.

"I stopped yelling," Raymer said. "If I cooperated and went in my room, I thought, it was highly likely I was going to be quietly killed, so I started yelling again."

Raymer again started flailing around. When it was over, he said, Joy was on the ground, and Cassim was running for the door with firearm in hand. Raymer still had his chips.

The men, accused of trying to rob Raymer in a high tech resort loaded with cameras, were later nabbed after video surveillance captured them walking to a car at the Bellagio and leaving.

A hotel employee also recognized one of the assailants from an earlier incident at the hotel in the casino's poker room.

Cassim and Joy are charged with attempted robbery and conspiracy.

After hearing Raymer's account of the incident Friday morning, Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangelo ordered the pair's case to District Court for arraignment.

Raymer of Connecticut won $5 million at the World Series of Poker in 2004 , and he quit his job as a patent lawyer to play poker.

He testified in court Friday he usually does not carry such a large amount of chips with him. He happened to have the $150,000 because he was scheduled to check out of the hotel very early the next morning.