One of the most talked about stories in the poker industry is the Borgata Winter Poker Open of 2014. When the event began, it was just a regular tournament. However the event would not even finish as counterfeit poker chips were found to be in play. This was a huge story that continues to unfold with the defendant in the case, Christian Lusardi, now pleading guilty.
Earlier in 2014, Christian Lusardi was sentenced to five years in prison with three years of supervised release for a bootlegging DVD operation that spans internationally. Lusardi also faced a fine of just over $1.1 million in this case. Many were wondering when the poker player would be charged in his connection with the Borgata counterfeit chip scandal and the answer is last week.
Lusardi pled guilty to a second-degree trademark counterfeiting charge and will have to pay $463,540 to the Borgata in restitution. He also plead guilty to a third-degree criminal mischief charge and will have to pay $9,455 for causing damage to the Harrah’s plumbing system.
The case all started in 2014 during the Borgata Winter Poker Open. The $2 million guaranteed event saw several players competing, including top pros. Lusardi would make it far into the competition, even cashing out for a few thousand dollars. By the time a little over 2 dozen players remained, the event was shut down.
The counterfeit chips were found and the Borgata had to determine what to do in this case. After a few days, players began to plead for money, prize money as well as compensation for the disruption of the tournament. This was of course after Lusardi was found to be in connection with the counterfeit chip incident.
Lusardi had apparently placed the chips in play and then once out of the competition, went back to his hotel room at Harrah’s. Then at some point, the player put a large grouping of chips into the toilet of his room and flushed. This caused a huge issue with the plumbing system of the hotel and employees later traced the issue back to Lusardi’s room. He was later arrested and charged but has now plead guilty to lesser charges.
In a press release on the case, John Hoffman, the Acting Attorney General, stated that the counterfeiting scheme of Lusardi sabotaged a major professional poker tournament at the Borgata as well as the plumbing system of the Harrah’s Casino Hotel. Lusardi now faces a prison sentence as well as having to pay a great deal in restitution.
Sentencing for Lusardi has been scheduled for October 22nd and prosecutors will be recommending a sentence of 5 years for counterfeiting and 3 years for criminal mischief. The Director of the Division of Criminal Justice stated:
The New Jersey State Police Superintendent, Colonel Rick Fuentes, also commented on the case, by stating that when you gamble on a flush in high-stakes poker, you either win big or lose big. Lusardi lost big when his scheme was tripped up by a leaky sewer pipe which then led to his arrest by the Casino Investigations Unit of the New Jersey State Police.
This case has been in the news for many months and should finally come to an end once Lusardi is sentenced for his crimes.
