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Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007

2006 WSOP final-table player strikes plea deal

Richard Lee
Richard Lee

By Earl Burton

More than a year after making an appearance at the World Series of Poker final table, poker player Richard Lee has struck a deal away from the poker tables.

In 2006, Lee was at the final table of the championship event of the WSOP, which was eventually won by Jamie Gold. His sixth-place finish earned him a $2.8 million payday, but it wasn't able to keep him from problems in his hometown San Antonio.

In August of 2006, not long after the WSOP, Lee was charged with operating a gambling and bookmaking operation from his home and, along with three other persons, was facing jail time if the charges resulted in a conviction.

According to reports, Lee has entered into a plea bargain that means he will avoid any serious jail time but which will result in him giving up nearly all of the winnings from the World Series.

On Tuesday, Lee entered a no-contest plea to charges of keeping a place for gambling, which is a misdemeanor under Texas law. Lee will give up the $2.5 million that was seized by San Antonio police during the raid on his home. Police had alleged that Lee's home was the center of operations of an online gambling outfit that, they claimed, Lee was helming. The online gaming site was set up to look as if it was being operated from overseas and was accepting wagers on sporting events.

Lee, for his part, seems relieved that the charges that have been dogging him for the last 14 months have now been addressed.

"I'm glad it's over," Lee said. "Now I need to go win another poker tournament."

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