Hello Everyone.



First of all, I have to tell you that I'm shocked by these allegations, and that the last 6 days have been very trying. Now, after reading Mr Tony Mars' denial and statement on 2+2 (https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/s...7&postcount=87) I have been able to discover and understand the true character of Wesley Fei and how he could possibly fabricate false allegations against me for his own selfish motivation. The point of all this is that it is clear, Wesley is a cheat and a thief by his own admission in text messages yet he makes unsupported allegations against me on a game when I wasn't even in the country. This is clearly upsetting especially considering the character of the person who is making these false allegations.

I have read allegations and seen the supporting evidence (text messages) online from the 2+2 forum showing that Wesley Fei has been accused of scamming people in cryptocurrency, as well as in the Poker community, and scammed some of his close friends. Mr Tony Mars has documented these accusations with extremely incriminating evidence, and posted them here. The first piece of evidence shows that Wesley was cheating against one of his friends, Mr F, who was invited by Wesley to play on an online club set up by Wesley himself. According to the evidence presented as an attachment in this article, Wesley used several GTO RTA robots in collusion with each other to fleece Mr F, who lost $200,000. Mr F with the help of Mr Mars demonstrated this to Wesley and threatened to denounce him publicly during the HCL stream, and Wesley begged Mr F not to say anything, and GAVE HIM THE MONEY BACK. A screenshot of the text conversation between Wesley and Mr F was posted to support this claim. Enclosed here are the original text messages depicted on 2+2 forum in Mr Mars original post, I attached underneath the deepL English translation to make it easier to read for everyone.














A second screenshot shows an exchange of text messages between Wesley and Mr Tony Mars where Wesley boasts about having invested a lot of money in the development of a new RTA tool (real time assistance, artificial intelligence prohibited on all Poker platforms). Wesley says he can't use it on Pokerstars because they've removed the heads-up tables, as the game is solved. However, Wesley says he will be able to use it by connecting it to GG Poker. He says there's a 100% chance of winning, it's impossible to lose with the robot against a human, and that he's going to become the biggest heads-up winner in poker history.






A 3rd passage mentioned the fact that all the possessions Wesley bragged about on social networks (ultra-luxury cars Ferraris, Bentley, Lamborghini, villas, the 400k spent in the suite at the Ceasar palace during the Formula 1 weekend in Las Vegas...), all of which are NOT owned by Wesley, but by a player who is in the game, whom we'll call Mr BOSS. (I personally saw a part of that impressive car collection from Mr BOSS).

All this incriminating evidence against Wesley was published by Mr Mars on the 2+2 forum, and I was shocked to see it. The point I am making is that the very person that is making this unfounded allegation against me is a cheat and a thief by his own admission in his own text messages. Clearly Wesley the accuser is not an honorable or credible person. At no time ever when I was dealing at Yorba Linda did anyone allege that there was a cheating going on, but when I am out of the country and there are other dealers, players, etc., and Wesley does not want to pay his debts, it is truly convenient for him to say "I am not paying because months ago I think I was cheated".

In addition, PokerNews took Tony's statement and copied it onto their site, but what is very upsetting is that they removed the allegations of cheating against Wesley supported by evidence provided by Mr Mars. If they are objective reporters, why would they not put the entire response in the site as opposed to removing anything about the accuser? Can you imagine, the accuser admitted to being a cheater where he gave back money so it would not go public but now makes allegations against me when I wasn't even in the country. To say that this is upsetting is an understatement. Why would PokerNews not be fair and balanced and put Mr. Mars entire statement so everyone can make up their own minds when they find out who this guy really is? From reviewing what Mr. Mars wrote on 2+2 forum and then on PokerNews, it is clear that PokerNews took out the first paragraph and the last paragraph about Wesley’s Instagram account, but removed everything else. The evidence Mr Mars posted shows that Wesley cheated against one of his friends at Yorba Linda to the tune of $200,000, intends to cheat against other people online at GG Poker in Heads up, and is trying to pass himself off as a millionaire on Instagram with assets that aren't his, so I highly doubt the credibility and integrity of such a person. He recently lost a few million dollars, owes money to Mr Mars as was said in the Spaces podcasts. And so, this is the kind of person who accuses me of embezzlement at a poker game where I wasn't even there. It's obvious to me that he's trying to create an excuse not to pay his debts, he's creating false accusations, and he's ruining my reputation in the process. I am very upset about this and I am taking legal action against him.

Now that I know a little more about Wesley Fei's character and his past, I'm less surprised by his dishonest actions against me, and his false allegations.

Here are a few facts that are worth mentioning.

On October 14th, 2023, the day a deck of marked cards was apparently discovered in Yorba Linda, I was in Toulouse, in France, and participated in a free flight experience. I have full proof of my presence on French territory. I have plane tickets to Toulouse and passport stamps attesting of me being on French soil. I was in Yorba Linda from May 12, 2023 to October 1, 2023, but I was sometimes in the USA and sometimes in Europe, generally for periods of 2 or 3 weeks in Yorba, then 5 or 6 weeks outside the USA. The game took place about 2 to 4 times a week.

When I was at Yorba Linda, I didn't deal every game; I only dealt when the chip runner M. June called me to deal the game. Sometimes he had other dealers and didn't call me, or sometimes there were no games at all. I believe there was between 5 to 10 dealers who worked the game over that period of time. So if you count the times I wasn't invited, the times the game didn't run, or the times I was physically out of the States, I must have dealt between 15% to 20% of the games at Yorba Linda during that period, which must represent 20 to 25 games out of the 80 or 100 games they played, by estimation.


Some people have asked me why I sometimes dealt at games instead of playing in them. The reason is quite simple. First of all, soft games (where the players are weak) are much harder to find than they were 20 years ago.

But the main reason is this:

Most people would be shocked to see how much these super VIPs can tip over the course of an evening if they like you. You can easily earn between 5 and 6bb an hour dealing these games, and you're guaranteed not to lose. 6bb is a very decent win rate, especially if you can not lose.

Now, some people might say it's not as sexy to say you're a dealer and not a player (not me) and if you have a sensitive ego, you might want to use an alias to avoid scornful players making fun of you for "demoting" from player to dealer (I've been the victim of these "bullying attacks", it's not very flattering), but to be pragmatic, there are times in your life (and age) when you'd rather deal and win a third of a high stakes buy-in over 12 or 15 hours, than play and risk losing. There's no reason to criticize someone for trying to make a decent living, having lower expectations, and locking in a smaller win instead of risking one's bankroll and playing in a game where you might not be a solid favorite.

What's more, these days, most pros don't rely solely on their winnings at the table (tournament or cashgame). Some of them produce content, in the form of streaming or podcasts, and promote a Twitch or YouTube channels; others try to increase their number of followers on social networks, and increase their influence. Others rely on sponsorships with online poker rooms or sports betting rooms, others are on commentary either online or on TV, still others get staked by rich people to be able to play without paying buy ins, or sell shares of themselves with a mark up. Others sell coaching, online or face-to-face. Still others (like me) sometimes decide to play (when they can find a soft game) or deal (when their bankroll is a bit lower due to a downswing, or they don't want to deal with the variance at the moment, or when super VIPS are at the table and giving huge tips).

Then, yes, I admit it's not great sometimes for the ego, so it's not one thing I necessarily put forward, it's easy to get mocked meanly. So if I have to take "ha he's supposedly an EPT Prague winner but he doesn't have the guts to play 400/800 so he's bumming around dealing to claw back a few thousand a night", well, I'll take it.
But I would never condemn anyone who wants to earn a consistent living, whether it's $50 a day, or maybe a few thousand a day if they are lucky enough to deal in games like this, while gamblers only talk in "millions", and are totally disconnected from reality. I don't need "millions" to be happy.


Wesley made the ridiculous declaration on Twitter that I was a Baccarat dealer at the Wynn. I've never dealt at the Wynn, as Wesley said. That's another total lie and you can go check their records. When you find out that he is lying about me dealing at the Wynn then you will have one more reason to understand this guy is a cheater and a liar.

Regarding that video recording, I don't know if it's authentic or not, but I will tell you one thing. I am a Poker player, and a Poker dealer, and I am not a gangster, I do not threaten people physically, it's not who I am, but on another note, I will not let these lies be unanswered, I will file a legal action to clear my name against the liars Wesley Fei and Nik Airball Arcot.



I have dealt that game between 20 to 25 times out of approximately 80 to 100 games over a period of 7 months, Nik and Wesley never complained when I was dealing, no one ever questioned the integrity of the game nor told me anything, but months later a known cheater (by his own admission in his text messages) who owes money and doesn't want to pay his debts is making these accusations when I am not even in the country without any evidence except the fact that he lost. This is absurd. I will let people be the judge.

I will post updates in the future.

Crazy story, seems to me like this Wesley is the real cheater and he’s just trying to get away from paying his debts.

TIL I need to figure out how to become a dealer in high stakes private games

Have you ever cheated during a poker game? Especially in French clubs? Everyone who knows you in the French poker community told me you were a known cheat. Why is that?

I have also ready that the OP is a card mechanic. isit true?

Based on current evidence provide by PokerNews and you:

1. Mars cheated Wesley and many other players on the private games BY HIS OWN ADMISSION IN HIS OWN VOICE . (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH5rK-hWZJk)
2. Mars mentioned that two other "foreigner's" are cheating with him. And allegedly, one of the other cheaters is you.
3. Mars mentioned that if Wesley does not stop, "The boss" and you guys will send someone to "take care" of Wesley. And one of you guys will hire a hitman.
4. Wesley is allegedly using some sort of RTA on GG based on your new evidence.

Two separate issues, Wesley should be invested by GG and check if he is using RTA and banning him for cheating if it is true. You should address directly about allegedly cheating and death-threating other players on your end, which you did partially about the cheating part, but not about the death-threating message Mars said in the phone call.

Basically, the problem of your statement is:

1. if Mars is a creditable person, then you need address the points made by Mars directly, especially about the death threat statements by this so called "Mr Boss" and you guys.
2. If Mars is not a creditable person, then if we can treat anything he provided as an evidence? It is by your own logic of doubting Wesley's credibility btw.

At this point, I think we should look at the evidence from both parties. Wesley has direct evidence of "Mr Mars" admit cheating and "Mars' is willing to go all the way to death threating Wesley. You provide evidence but it is for a separate issue of Online cheating. The others are not hard evidence. Like you said, we should let people be the judge.

In after Wesley.

This is confirmed. He used to be a magician in France

100% this

Seems like most of Arnaud' statement is discredit Wesley as a cheat and scumbag himself.

While it's fine to also bring up issues with Wesley's credibility, not enough of the statement addresses the cheating alleged regarding Mars, nor Arnaud's alleged part in the whole thing.

Arnaud obsessed over the date he was out of the country when the "cheating deck" was found, but that doesn't mean much. By his own admission, he was dealing during 15-20% of those games where Mars is alleged to have been cheating, so how does his being gone during the "deck incident" clear him? It clears Arnaud on that particular date, but nothing else.

I admit that Wesley and Airball have been light on actual evidence regarding Arnaud's guilt, but it's also true that Arnaud apparently had a bad reputation in France, so it's hard for us to believe that he's innocent here, especially given his admitted association with Mars.

And yes, on a separate note, Wesley's alleged scheme to build a bot to cheat on GG also needs to be investigated. But that has nothing to do with the rest of this.

Its the but what about that guy over there defense

what·a·bout·ism
/ˌ(h)wədəˈboudizəm/
nounBRITISH
noun: whataboutism
the technique or practice of responding to an accusation or difficult question by making a counteraccusation or raising a different issue.

Suddenly Wesley writes lucid, logical, insightful analysis??

I am likely one of the few on this forum who was familiar with Wesley Fei prior to his introduction on HCL.

Wesley allegedly worked for Roger Xu at Leotank Capital shortly after graduating from UC Santa Cruz.

Leotank Capital was allegedly among the very shadiest crypto trading shops on US soil, trading with insanely high liquidity that was only possible bc they were trading on 100x leverage using Bitmex, which was banned in the US at the time.

So much so that the CFTC went after them - you can control+F Leotank Capital / Roger Xu in this enforcement action:

https://www.tbstat.com/wp/uploads/20...-As-Filed-.pdf

There are other things that Leotank allegedly may have done that I wonÂ’t mention here bc I donÂ’t have proof (involving possibly trading in tandem with massive wallets on Chinese soil) but regardless, I think that Arnaud is correct to question WesleyÂ’s character.

The reason that lawyers attack peoplesÂ’ character in the courtroom is that it really is a reasonable approach to take when analyzing various he-said, she-said situations. In my opinion and from everything I know about WesleyÂ’s past, he certainly strikes me as someone who would lie in order to get out of paying a 7 figure debt, and the sudden vehemence with each heÂ’s doing it on Twitter strikes me as desperate, unhinged, and guilty.

This is pretty close to being another "what-aboutism".

Yes Wes is linked to crypto since it appears to be the main source of his income in order to play high stakes poker. But whether Wes attained his wealth legitimately or not is really quite speculative right now. In the beginning, when things were going well, the thought was that Wes got lucky like a number of other people who bought and held crypto since the beginning. Up till now, I still haven't seen any arguments opposing this view. Multiple scammers have definitely tried to steal from Wes. But allegations of him running pump and dumps rug pulls or ponzi like schemes have very little substances at this moment.

All this really says is that this Yorba Linda game and most high stakes private games are essentially a den of thieves all trying to cheat, gain ev and **** over everyone else all whilst smiling and shooting the **** pretending to be friends. ItÂ’s exactly the same everywhere all over the world.

IÂ’ve played private games in the UK and elsewhere and itÂ’s pretty easy to spot who is cheating and what games arenÂ’t legit if youÂ’re skeptical by nature and donÂ’t trust anyone, which can be a detriment and cost you ev if you simply donÂ’t go and the game happens to be legit but rather that than whatÂ’s more likely to happen.

Stick to casinos folks, youÂ’re still going to get cheated at some point and youÂ’re surrounded by scum for the most part, but you arenÂ’t going to be fleeced every single session and risk all the other stuff that goes along with private games.

Guess what guys? It's possible for Wesley to be a scumbag but also to have been cheated by other scumbags.

The only post worth reading in this thread

Not true. If you ain't playing private games with people who don't cheat, you ain't livn life. The casino is boring ASF, catered to make you go insane and lose your hard earned money in table games. Sure you may not play them now but eventually you will not give a **** one day after leaving the poker room and be like I can get it back simply by doubling up. Lol

As stated in my original post, I have taken legal action for slander against Welsey Fei and Nik "Airball" Arcot. It took longer than I expected to get the complaint filed by the lawyers, and present this in front of a judge, but I'm glad that the procedure is now ongoing.

Here is a copy of the complaint. Wesley Fei and Nik Arcot will be summoned in the upcoming days, and I hope they will be held fully accountable for their actions.

Hopefully, this will set a precedent, and it will prevent losing players to randomly accuse anyone of wrongdoing, without any proof, just because they are losing (which seems to be rampant nowadays).

COMPLAINT - 1


KEVIN R. HANSEN, ESQ.
California Bar No.: 182591
LAW OFFICES OF KEVIN R. HANSEN
2526 S. Rainbow Blvd., Ste. C-106
Las Vegas, Nevada 89146
Telephone: (702) 478-7777
Facsimile: (702) 728-2484
kevin@kevinrhansen.com
Attorney for Plaintiff
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF ORANGE
ARNAUD MATTERN,
Plaintiff,
vs.
WESLEY FEI a/k/a WES SIDE, an individual;
NIKHIL ARCOT a/k/a NIK AIRBALL, an
individual; ROE ENTITIES I through X; and
DOES 1 through 10,
Defendants.
)
)
)

Case No.:
COMPLAINT
JURY TRIAL REQUESTED
)
)
COMES NOW Plaintiff ARNAUD MATTERN, by and through his counsel of record, KEVIN
R. HANSEN, ESQ., of the LAW OFFICES OF KEVIN R. HANSEN, for causes of action against the
Defendants WESLEY FEI a/k/a WES SIDE and NIKHIL ARCOT a/k/a NIK AIRBALL and
complaints and avers of the Defendants as follows:
COMMON ALLEGATIONS
1. The events and circumstances giving rise to this Complaint occurred in Yorba Linda, Orange
County, California.
2. Plaintiff ARNAUD MATTERN (“Mattern” or “Plaintiff”) is, and as all times relevant hereto
was an adult resident of London, United Kingdom.
Electronically Filed by Superior Court of California, County of Orange, 02/01/2024 04:47:14 PM.
30-2024-01376751-CU-DF-CJC - ROA # 2 - DAVID H. YAMASAKI, Clerk of the Court By G. Galon, Deputy Clerk.
COMPLAINT - 2


3. Upon information and belief, Defendant WESLEY FEI a/k/a WES SIDE (“Fei”) is, and at all
times relevant hereto, was a resident of Orange County, California.
4. Upon information and belief, Defendant NIKHIL ARCOT a/k/a NIK AIRBALL (“Arcot”) is,
and at all times relevant hereto, was a resident of Orange County, California.
5. The true names, identities, or capacities, whether individual, associate, corporate, or otherwise
of Defendants ROE ENTITIES I through X and DOES 1 through 10 are unknown to Plaintiff
at this time, and Plaintiffs therefore sue said Defendants by such fictitious names. When the
true names, identities, capacities, or participation of such fictitiously designated Defendants are
ascertained, Plaintiffs will ask leave of Court to amend their Complaint to insert said names,
identities, and/or capacities, together with proper charging allegations. Plaintiffs are informed
and believe and thereon alleged that each of the Defendants sued herein as DOE or ROE are
responsible in some manner for the events and happenings herein referenced, thereby legally
causing damages to Plaintiff as hereinafter set forth.
6. Jurisdiction is obtained and venue is properly set in the Superior Court of the State of California
for the County of Orange.
FACTS
7. Plaintiff incorporates and re-alleges all foregoing paragraphs of this Complaint as though these
paragraphs were fully set forth herein.
8. Plaintiff is a professional poker player competing nationally and internationally in both public
and private poker games.
9. Plaintiff also, at times, deals in high-stakes games and/or private games.
10. Defendant Fei is a professional poker player competing nationally and internationally in both
public and private poker games.
11. Defendant Arcot is a professional poker player competing nationally and internationally in both
public and private poker games.
12. From approximately March 2023 to October 2023, Plaintiff, Defendants, and others
participated in a series of private poker games in Yorba Linda, California (the “Series”).
COMPLAINT - 3

13. Plaintiff participated as one of many dealers in the Yorba Linda Series and estimates that he
was dealer for 25% or less of the games in the Series.
14. Defendants participated as players in the Series.
15. Upon information and belief, during the Series, Defendant Fei lost a significant amount of
money, believed to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
16. Upon information and belief, during the Series, Defendant Arcot lost significant amount of
money, believed to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
17. Defendant Arcot and Defendant Fei blamed Plaintiff, among others, for their losses.
18. Upon information and belief, Defendants claim to have discovered a deck of marked cards on
or about October 14, 2023, during or after a game in Yorba Linda.
19. Plaintiff did not deal cards during the October 14, 2023, game in Yorba Linda and was, in fact,
out of the country in France.
20. Subsequently, Defendant Fei and Defendant Arcot, publicly accused Plaintiff of cheating
during the Series (the “Accusations”) even though Plaintiff was in another country at the time
of DefendantsÂ’ allegation of the discovered marked cards, and upon information and belief
Defendants made these accusations verbally to members of the poker community.
21. Defendants carefully crafted the Accusations to distract members of the poker community from
their own malevolent actions, to get out of paying money they owe to the operators of the Series
and to personally and professionally ruin Plaintiff.
22. On or about December 6, 2033, Defendant Fei took the Accusations against Mattern to social
media.
23. On or about December 7, 2023, Pokernews.com published a story about the Accusations,
extensively quoting Defendants.
24. On or about December 8, 2023, Poker.org published a story about the Accusations, extensively
quoting Defendants.
25. Defendant Fei publicly accused Plaintiff of taking part in a “cheating ring” and accused Plaintiff
of being a “card ‘mechanic’.”
COMPLAINT - 4

26. Defendant Fei similarly named and/or tagged Plaintiff in one or more social media posts on or
about December 6, 2023, and falsely accused him of cheating.
27. The act of tagging @[Plaintiff] sent the social media post(s) directly to Plaintiff, as well as
anyone that follows Plaintiff, or Defendant, on X (f/k/a Twitter).
28. Plaintiff did not cheat at any time during the Series, or at any time described by Defendants in
their Accusations and was not even in the United States in October when the alleged cheating
took place.
29. Plaintiff has never dealt baccarat at the Wynn or conduct any illegal activities at the Wynn,
contrary to statements by Defendant Fei.
30. Plaintiff has never gone by the pseudonym “Mike the Magician,” contrary to statements by
Defendant Fei.
31. If cheating did occur by Defendants, or any third party, Plaintiff was not aware of any such
cheating and did not intentionally participate in it.
32. The Accusations demonstrate that Defendants are intentionally, maliciously, and willfully
engaging in a course of conduct by communicating words and language targets specifically to
harass Plaintiff, causing him substantial emotional distress and other harm.
33. The Accusations against Plaintiff are false and Defamatory.
34. Defendant Wesley Fei is, in fact, a person cheating during poker matches and has admitted,
inter alia, that Defendant Fei had used, or plans to use, “real time assistance” bots to cheat
during online poker matches, such as those on GG Poker.
35. Defendant Fei has admitted that his actions have “ruined” Plaintiff.
36. Defendant Fei has entered into a concerted effort to work with others within the poker
community to harm and continue to harm Plaintiff.
37. Since the Accusations, Plaintiff has been unable to participate in certain poker games due to the
damage to his reputation, has lost a significant source of income, has lost his reputation in his
community and will continue to suffer until Defendants retract and/or repudiate the Accusations
against Plaintiff.
////
COMPLAINT - 5

CAUSES OF ACTION
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
(Defamation Per Se – as to all Defendants)
38. Plaintiff repleads, realleges, and incorporates by reference the allegations in each and every
preceding paragraph as if fully set forth herein.
39. Upon information and belief, since approximately December 2023, Defendants made verbal
statements to various third parties regarding the false and defamatory Accusations.
40. Evidence of these statements can be found through the written statements published through
websites such as poker.org, pokernews.com, that are based on conversations with and quotes
from Defendants.
41. Defendants published and or caused to be published, the false and defamatory Accusations
between December 6 and December 8, 2023, through websites such as poker.org,
pokernews.com, and X (f/k/a Twitter), and upon information and belief, other social media
platforms.
42. Upon information and belief, Defendants continue to perpetuate those false Accusations, both
orally and in writing.
43. Upon information and belief, Defendants know their false Accusations to be false, and/or are
subjectively aware that the false Accusations were, in all probability, false at the time they
uttered them, published them, and/or caused them to be published.
44. Defendants have asserted that the Accusations against Plaintiff are fact and not mere opinion.
45. Upon information and belief, and by way of example, Defendants never reported the alleged
cheating and theft to law enforcement.
46. Defendants published the false Accusations via X (f/k/a Twitter) and identified Plaintiff by his
professional name (including falsely as “Mike the Magician”) and occupation, and tagged
COMPLAINT - 6


Plaintiff so that individuals who read them would know the statements made were about
Plaintiff.
47. Upon information and belief, DefendantsÂ’ false and defamatory Accusations were generated
and communicated with actual malice, total disregard for the truth, and in the complete absence
of any special privilege.
48. Upon information and belief, the False Accusation have been viewed by thousands of people
and have been heard by hundreds if not thousands of people.
49. Upon information and belief, DefendantsÂ’ false and defamatory Accusations uttered and made
and published online and on social media are disparaging and have produced damage to Plaintiff
and to Plaintiff's name, character, and reputation.
50. Upon information and belief, the false and defamatory Accusations expose Plaintiff to hatred,
contempt, ridicule or obloquy, cause him to be shunned or avoided, and/or tend to injure him
in his occupation.
51. The aforementioned false and defamatory Accusations made and published by Defendants have
caused Plaintiff to suffer loss of income, embarrassment, humiliation, mental anguish, and
emotional distress.
52. The aforementioned false and defamatory Accusations made and published by Defendants have
also caused damage to PlaintiffÂ’s reputation and character within his profession and industry,
including but not limited to among his fans and with prospective business relations.
53. Upon information and belief, the actions or omissions of Defendants as set forth in this
Complaint demonstrate malice, egregious defamation, and insult.
54. Upon information and belief, such actions or omissions by Defendants were undertaken with
malice and reckless disregard of the falsity of the speech and its effects on Plaintiff.
COMPLAINT - 7


55. As a direct and proximate result of DefendantsÂ’ actions, Plaintiff has suffered damages to his
reputation and standing within his profession.
56. As a direct and proximate result of the DefendantsÂ’ action, Plaintiff has suffered monetary
damages in excess of $50,000 which amount shall be proven at the time of trial.
57. Plaintiff is entitled to an award of punitive damages to deter Defendants from such egregious
conduct in the future.
58. Plaintiff is also entitled to attorneysÂ’ fees and litigation expenses beyond and in excess of those
damages necessary to compensate Plaintiff for injuries resulting from DefendantsÂ’ conduct.
SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
(Defamation per quod – as to all Defendants)
59. Plaintiff repleads, realleges, and incorporates by reference the allegations in each and every
preceding paragraph as if fully set forth herein.
60. Upon information and belief, since approximately December 2023, Defendants made verbal
statements to various third parties regarding the false and defamatory Accusations.
61. Evidence of these statements can be found through the written statements published through
websites such as poker.org, pokernews.com, that are based on conversations with and quotes
from Defendants.
62. Defendants published and or caused to be published, the false and defamatory Accusations
between December 6 and December 8, 2023, through websites such as poker.org,
pokernews.com, and X (f/k/a Twitter), and upon information and belief, other social media
platforms.
63. Upon information and belief, Defendants continue to perpetuate those false Accusations, both
orally and in writing.
COMPLAINT - 8

64. Upon information and belief, Defendants know their false Accusations to be false, and/or are
subjectively aware that the false Accusations were, in all probability, false at the time they
uttered them, published them, and/or caused them to be published.
65. Defendants have asserted that the Accusations against Plaintiff are fact and not mere opinion.
66. Upon information and belief, and by way of example, Defendants never reported the alleged
cheating and theft to law enforcement.
67. Defendants published the false Accusations via X (f/k/a Twitter) and identified Plaintiff by his
professional name (including, falsely as “Mike the Magician”) and occupation, and tagged
Plaintiff so that individuals who read them would know the statements made were about
Plaintiff.
68. Upon information and belief, DefendantsÂ’ false and defamatory Accusations were generated
and communicated with actual malice, total disregard for the truth, and in the complete absence
of any special privilege.
69. Upon information and belief, the False Accusation have been viewed by thousands of people
and have been heard by hundreds if not thousands of people.
70. Upon information and belief, DefendantsÂ’ false and defamatory Accusations uttered and made
and published online and on social media are disparaging and have produced damage to Plaintiff
and to Plaintiff's name, character, and reputation.
71. Upon information and belief, the false and defamatory Accusations expose Plaintiff to hatred,
contempt, ridicule or obloquy, cause him to be shunned or avoided, and/or tend to injure him
in his occupation.
////
////
COMPLAINT - 9

72. The aforementioned false and defamatory Accusations made and published by Defendants have
caused Plaintiff to suffer loss of income, embarrassment, humiliation, mental anguish, and
emotional distress.
73. The aforementioned false and defamatory Accusations made and published by Defendants have
also caused damage to PlaintiffÂ’s reputation and character within his profession and industry,
including but not limited to among his fans and with prospective business relations.
74. Upon information and belief, the actions or omissions of Defendants as set forth in this
Complaint demonstrate malice, egregious defamation, and insult.
75. Upon information and belief, such actions or omissions by Defendants were undertaken
negligently, if not with malice and reckless disregard of the falsity of the speech and its effects
on Plaintiff.
76. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants Plaintiff has suffered damages in an amount
greater than $50,000 to be proven at trial.
77. Plaintiff is entitled to general and special damages for the following harm: loss of income,
embarrassment, humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional distress and impairment to his
name, character, and reputation.
78. Plaintiff is entitled to an award of punitive damages to deter Defendants from such egregious
conduct in the future.
79. Plaintiff is also entitled to attorneysÂ’ fees and litigation expenses beyond and in excess of those
damages necessary to compensate Plaintiff for injuries resulting from DefendantsÂ’ conduct.
THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION
(Interference with Prospective Business Advantage – as to all Defendants)
80. Plaintiff repleads, realleges, and incorporates by reference the allegations in each and every
preceding paragraph as if fully set forth herein.
COMPLAINT - 10

81. At the time Defendants made the false and defamatory Accusations, from December 2023 to
the present, Defendants knew that Plaintiff would be playing poker both nationally and
internationally and intended to cause harm to Plaintiff and/or his brand by creating public outcry
that would prevent Plaintiff from participating in poker games.
82. Defendants had no justification, legal or otherwise, to publish and/or perpetuate the defamatory
Accusations, except to cause harm to Plaintiff and/or his brand.
83. As a direct and proximate result of DefendantsÂ’ conduct, Plaintiff has suffered damages in an
amount greater than $50,000 to be proven at trial.
84. Plaintiff is entitled to general and special damages for the following harm: loss of income
embarrassment, humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional distress and impairment to his
name, character, and reputation.
85. Plaintiff is entitled to an award of punitive damages to deter Defendant Hunter from such
egregious conduct in the future.
86. Plaintiff is also entitled to attorneysÂ’ fees and litigation expenses beyond and in excess of those
damages necessary to compensate Plaintiff for injuries resulting from DefendantsÂ’ conduct.
FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION
(Declaratory and/or Injunctive Relief – as to all Defendants)
87. Plaintiff repleads, realleges, and incorporates by reference the allegations in each and every
preceding paragraph as if fully set forth herein.
88. As a direct and proximate result of DefendantsÂ’ conduct, Plaintiff has suffered damages in an
amount greater than $50,000 to be proven at trial.
89. Plaintiff is entitled to general and special damages for the following harm: loss of income,
embarrassment, humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional distress and impairment to his
name, character, and reputation.
COMPLAINT - 11

90. Plaintiff is entitled to an award of punitive damages to deter Defendants from such egregious
conduct in the future.
91. Plaintiff is also entitled to attorneysÂ’ fees and litigation expenses beyond and in excess of those
damages necessary to compensate Plaintiff for injuries resulting from DefendantsÂ’ conduct.
92. Additionally, as a direct and proximate result of the foregoing, Plaintiff is entitled to an order
permanently enjoining Defendants and all their respective agents, officers, employees,
representatives, successors, assigns, attorneys, and all other persons acting for, with, by,
through, or under authority from Defendants, or in concert or participation with Defendants
from: making, disseminating, broadcasting, or publishing any statements that perpetuate the
false and defamatory Accusations against Plaintiff.
93. Plaintiff is further entitled to an order requiring Defendants, to retract, remove, and repudiate
in full all defamatory and disparaging statements made regarding Plaintiff, including but not
limited to the Accusations.
94. Plaintiff is further entitled to an order requiring Defendants to issue a formal apology to Plaintiff
for their false and defamatory Accusations.
FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION
(Intentional Inflection of Emotional Distress – as to all Defendants)
95. Plaintiff repleads, realleges, and incorporates by reference the allegations in each and every
preceding paragraph as if fully set forth herein.
96. DefendantsÂ’ conduct, as alleged herein, was extreme and outrageous.
97. DefendantsÂ’ Accusations against Plaintiff were intended to cause emotional distress to Plaintiff,
and/or were made with reckless disregard for causing emotional distress to Plaintiff.
98. Plaintiff did in fact suffer severe emotional distress, including, but not limited to depression,
anxiety, loss of sleep, and others.
COMPLAINT - 12

99. Plaintiff is entitled to an award of damages for enduring severe emotional distress, including,
but not limited to depression, anxiety, loss of sleep, and others brought upon by DefendantsÂ’
egregious conduct.
100. As a direct and proximate result of the DefendantsÂ’ action, Plaintiff has suffered
monetary damages in excess of $50,000 which amount shall be proven at the time of trial.
101. Plaintiff is entitled to an award of punitive damages to deter Defendants from such
egregious conduct in the future.
102. Plaintiff is also entitled to attorneysÂ’ fees and litigation expenses beyond and in excess
of those damages necessary to compensate Plaintiff for injuries resulting from DefendantsÂ’
conduct.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, expressly reserving the right to amend this Complaint to add the
proper names and capacities of DOE and ROE Defendants, prior to or at the time of trial of this action,
and insert those items of damage not yet fully ascertainable, pray judgment as follows:
1. For general damages sustained by Plaintiff;
2. For special damages sustained by Plaintiff;
3. For punitive damages to deter DefendantsÂ’ conduct in the future;
4. For reasonable attorneyÂ’s fees and costs;
////
////
////
COMPLAINT - 13

5. For interest at the statutory rate; and
6. For any other such relief that the Court deems just and proper.
Dated February 1, 2024.
LAW OFFICES OF KEVIN R. HANSEN
/s/ Kevin R. Hansen
KEVIN R. HANSEN, ESQ.
California Bar No.: 182591
2526 S. Rainbow Blvd., Ste. C-106
Las Vegas, Nevada 89146
Telephone: (702) 478-7777
Facsimile: (702) 728-2484
kevin@kevinrhansen.com
Attorney for Plaintiff

OP, perhaps you didnt respond due to your now pending legal matters, however you took the time to write this long post to defend your character and so I dont see why you'd suddenly draw the line at choosing to not respond to the direct questions about said character...

There's no need for me to repeat them as they're only a few msg's above this, but I'd like to hear your response.. Ignoring them but making other posts does not bode well for those of us who actually took the time to read through your op.

Also, your attorney doesn't seem to handle these type of cases...

"Kevin practices in the areas of personal injury, automobile accidents, slip and fall, premises liability, product liability, social security disability, consumer rights, construction law and commercial landlord/tenant law. Kevin has had numerous jury trials in Nevada and California with excellent results. His jury trials have involved automobile accidents, slip and fall cases, complex construction litigation, commercial landlord/tenant, premises liability, general negligence and products liability." https://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/kevin-hansen-757289

Oftentimes people will take court records and repurpose them for their own use if they're trying to seem credible online. I hope that isn't the case here as an error like that is almost never done by an innocent party.

Arnaud, I have no idea what you did or didn't do.

However, it seems pretty clear from that recorded phone call Wesley posted between him and Mars that there WAS cheating in that game.

You dealt in that game -- just not on the day the cheating was finally caught.

It is possible that you had no part in that cheating. It is also possible that you did have a part in that cheating. At the bare minimum, you admit that you dealt in the game about 25% of the time it ran, and the given the fact that cheating was suspected in the game and then eventually caught, you can't complain when your name is caught up in the stink.

This lawsuit is highly unlikely to emerge victorious, given that you dealt cards in an illegal private game where it is highly likely cheating took place at some point. Therefore, even if Nik Airball and Wesley are incorrect that you were part of the cheating ring, it is not unreasonable for them to make such an allegation, since you both dealt in it and had some association/friendship with Mars, the alleged ringleader.

I agree there is no proof of wrongdoing on your part, but there's also enough reasonable suspicion involving that entire game to where anyone associated with it can't cry foul.

I agree with you that Wesley likely was trying to build a bot to cheat on GG, but that isn't very relevant here. Bad people sometimes get cheated, as well.

I guess if the purpose of this lawsuit is to hassle or shut up Airball/Wesley, maybe it will have that desired effect, especially if you didn't pay this attorney very much to get it started.

Nevada is a state with anti-SLAPP legislation, and I suspect this suit will be dismissed in that manner. Has the case actually been filed yet?

ItÂ’s plausible that a known dealing cheat could have been dealing in a game where cheating was shown to have happened with high probability and not have cheated. Plausible.

However most of what has been written in the OP can be completely ignored as irrelevant character assassination. Even if everything written about Wesley is assumed to be true, itÂ’s irrelevant to the alleged cheating that happened in the game. Furthermore, even if Arnaud was not there for the particular cheated game, that doesnÂ’t mean that he wasnÂ’t part of a conspiracy to cheat.

I donÂ’t believe that even if he was exonerated from this particular instance of cheating that means that he wasnÂ’t part of a cheating scheme. He should address the allegations of cheating in France if he wants to be taken seriously. It sounds like there are many people with knowledge that he did in fact cheat and was never brought to justice. So I donÂ’t accept this argument that because he wasnÂ’t a mechanic in this game that means heÂ’s not a card mechanic. I also find it suspicious that his best argument is that he thinks Wesley is a PoS. Notice the accusations are against Nik A and being made hy Nick A as well and he never even tries to make allegations against him.

Does that mean that Nick AÂ’s allegations are true? No. But a known card cheat dealing 25% of allegedly cheated games and then coming on and attacking the person who initially made the accusation while providing evidence looks SHADY af. Ultimately all this really shows is to play home games at your own risk because I doubt anything will come from this. But if I was a legal advisor for Arnaud I would tell him to stop posting and not pretend that these stupid lawsuits are going to go anywhere.

I agree with everything you say here beside the point about the bot on GG.

It is very reasonable for Arnaud to point this out to put Wesleys credibility in question.

Of course bad people get cheated too but bad people are more likely then honest people to conjure up some accusation to get out of paying a debt.