a degenerate gambler

Man Skips Sentencing to Play Poker


By Associated Press

May 17, 2004, 8:51 AM EDT


TOMS RIVER, N.J. -- A man scheduled to be sentenced for masterminding an illegal million-dollar investment scheme went to Las Vegas instead to play poker.

Superior Court Judge James N. Citta issued a bench warrant Friday for the arrest Brian Strahl, 29, of Staten Island, N.Y. Citta called Strahl "a degenerate gambler."

Strahl was scheduled to be sentenced Friday, but faxed Citta from Las Vegas to say he was playing in the World Series of Poker to win money to make restitution to his victims. The letter said he had made $5,000 so far.

Strahl's lawyer, Michael Chazen, told the Asbury Park Press of Neptune that his client attempted to return from Las Vegas on Friday, but misplaced his ID and was not allowed on his flight.

In the letter Strahl faxed to Citta, he said he planned to take a train that would arrive on the East Coast on Monday.

Strahl's sentencing was rescheduled for July 16. He could receive up to 20 years in prison.

Strahl pleaded guilty last year to money laundering and admitted he and a co-defendant solicited investments in a nonexistent company. Investors were bilked out of $1.8 million.
Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press

A man who missed his sentencing because he was playing poker in Las Vegas to raise money to pay back victims of an investment scam drew a 15-year term Friday.

Brian Strahl, 27, of Staten Island, N.Y., pleaded guilty to money laundering in connection with a scam that bilked investors out of $1.8 million.

"I'm sorry to the victims and their families, and my family as well," Strahl said in court.

Strahl was a no-show for his May 15 sentencing because he missed a plane from Vegas, where he was competing in the World Series of Poker - hoping to win some of the $750,000 in restitution he agreed to pay.

He claimed to have won $5,000; it wasn't clear if any of it went to his victims.

A seething Superior Court Judge James Citta, who had called Strahl "a degenerate gambler" when he missed his original sentencing, also ordered him Friday to pay $5,000 a month to victims beginning 30 days after he's out of prison. He's already paid back $350,000.

"He enjoyed the lifestyle of the rich and famous while bilking people out of their life savings," Citta said. "This man took that money so he could live on the top floor of some gambling casino, buy a $90,000 automobile and be a big shot at age 24 or 25."


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