Star San Antonio Poker Player Richard Lee Goes for Plea

He made millions playing poker, and now WOAI.com has learned that Richard Lee is giving up some of that money. Lee pleaded “no contest” Tuesday to a charge of illegally promoting gambling in San Antonio.

As part of the deal he struck with prosecutors, he'll have to give up 2.2 million dollars.

Last year a warrant was served at one of Lee’s San Antonio homes. Police raided Lee's home, froze his bank accounts and confiscated his cars. Seized in this raid was $2.7 million in cash, a 2005 Lexus LX470, a 2005 Mercedes S430, a 2004 Toyota 4Runner, a 2005 Mercedes S430, and a truckload of designer handbags, electronics, and watches.

Richard Lee is the grandfather poker player who finished in sixth place in the 2006 World Series of Poker. He became a local hero when he refused to follow the normal course of final table players and wear clothing items that endorse internet poker websites. Instead, Lee chose to wear San Antonio shirts and hats.

The district attorney’s office and San Antonio police have been investigating Lee for more than a year. They claim Lee and four business partners were behind http://www.betbsbnow.com/, which booked sports bets.

The charge, which was also levied against the supposed business partners, is a misdemeanor.

Lee filed civil forfeiture proceedings to try and reclaim his seized property, but the district attorney's office used the cash and property as leverage for the plea negotiations.

Lee claims that the money seized was part of the $2.8 million he won for his sixth-place finish last summer. The authorities say the money came from taking bets over the Internet.

WOAI News

News Added: 17 October, 2007

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