Online poker addict given jail time for bank robbery

Greg Hogan Jr., former Lehigh University sophomore class president and son of a Baptist minister, was sentenced to 22 months to 10 years in prison Thursday for robbing a bank in order to feed his online gambling addiction.

Hogan had pleaded guilty in July to felony bank robbery and had hoped to be given a second chance rather than jail time so he could spread awareness about compulsive gambling.

The 20-year-old became addicted to gambling shortly after he started college in 2004. He overdrew his bank account by $1,000, and began stealing from his sister to cover his mounting debts. By December 2005, Hogan had approximately $5,000 in poker debts.

On Dec. 9, Hogan resorted to bank robbery to solve his debt problems. A friend drove him to a Wachovia branch in Allentown, Penn., where he handed the teller a note saying he had a gun, collected $2,871, and calmly left and got back in the car with his friend.

Hogan didn't actually have a weapon and wore no mask to disguise himself during the robbery. Later that same day he was arrested at orchestra rehearsal.

Since his arrest, Hogan has undergone treatment for his addiction. At his sentencing he asked for leniency and apologized to the bank teller he robbed, to the school, and to his family and friends.

News Added: 19 August, 2006

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