Well, it's a claim in a complaint filed in a civil action; "charge" and "civil" are sort of contradictory.

An apparently ex-parte TRO is newsworthy, especially when the counsel involved is the legal columnist for the news outlet reporting it. Nice press campaign/trial being waged against Maryland Live, in my opinion.

A link to the order would be nice; this is an interesting legal matter.

Here's the docket entry. The TRO is against the LLC only.

MOTION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER BE, AND HEREBY IS, GRANTED; THAT PLAYERS POKER CHAMPIONSHIP, LLC IS ENJOINED FROM TRANSFERRING ANY ASSETS TO ITS MEMBERS, TO INVESTORS, TO INSIDERS, TO THIRD PARTY CREDITORS, OR OTHERWISE, PENDING FURTHER ORDER OF THIS COURT; THAT THIS ORDER SHALL EXPIRE AT 1:59 PM EASTERN TIME ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017; THAT PURSUANT TO MARYLAND RULE 15-503 (A) , THE PLAINTIFFS SHALL CAUSE TO BE POSTED, WITH THE CLERK OF THIS COURT, CASH OR A BOND IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($100.00), AND THE SAME SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES BE REGARDED AS AN ADVANCE EXPENSE OF LITIGATION, AS THAT TERM IS UTILIZED IN MARYLAND RULE 19-301.8 (E) (1), ENTERED. (COPIES MAILED

I'm pretty surprised by the racketeering charge, but maybe I don't understand the term very well. Also does anyone know much about civil vs criminal? Can the government later do a criminal case after the civil case goes through? Can the government use the evidence in a civil case for a criminal case? Is the fact that a civil case is going forward first mean that it's unlikely a criminal case will be filed later or does it basically have no bearing on the probability of a criminal case being filed?

"an illegal lottery or gambling operation" would qualify as Racketeering

I won a 2500 package for 2017 on the last night in Aruba. I forgot what the exact deal was at 10-handed but when it was finalized, they passed around a list with for each winner to list name and email address. No documentation was handed out to the players and nobody questioned it. Sandy informed us that they haven't decided what the main event buy in would be for next year yet but it would probably be lowered. Package would include a main buy in and the rest in travel. I've played there three years in a row now. It was fun while it lasted.
Also got a FB message from Sandy about investment opp. I was actually thinking about it. Could have gotten screwed out of a lot more I guess.

Sandy was a true salesman. He sold us all a bill of goods that was junk in the end. Sorry you got ripped off of your winnings. You are right it could have been a lot worse if you invested. I too could have been caught up in that like i mentioned before....sometimes doing nothing is the best move we never make.

PPC LEGAL MESS EXPANDS AS PLAYERS SUE TAMPA BAY DOWNS

http://www.flushdraw.net/news/ppc-le...mpa-bay-downs/

Lots of suits. I am somewhat surprised by the fact no suit has gone against the host casino but its probably considerably harder being out of the country.

I was also sitting at the table but I was the '*******' who wouldn't chop and took the full $3k.

I can't imagine what the others are going to think when they see that they got screwed out of the money. I wounder if they will still consider me an *******.

I also got my full payout directly from the Palms and recall that until Palms stepped up and made the payment, we weren't getting anything from the organizers. I don't remember the details, but the important point is that Palms was liable for the full payout by NGC laws and Maryland and CT likely have similar laws.

Edit made it to the first mentions: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...&postcount=153

Has anyone mentioned this crazy article about him? http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/br...924-story.html

Not relevant to this thread at all I just thought it wild to have that luck.

Yes.

There was a lot of haggling going back
and forth. I don't think there should be any hard feelings. Everyone agrees or play continues.
Looking back, I'm surprised that nobody questioned not getting some sort of
documentation that we won a package. They just took our email addresses and we were all ok with it.
Doubt we have any recourse with the casino in Aruba. I'm headed there on vacation in 6 weeks. If anyone has advice for the people
who won packages for 2017 while in Aruba, I'm all ears. Seems like the people who won packages in the US can hold the casino accountable.

Is there any update as to what he status if this?


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I won a $3500 seat to the 2017 PPC Championship at Maryland Live in December. Got a call today from poker room manager Mike Smith confirming that they did not send the money to the PPC because they got wind of the payout issues, and that I could come to the casino and claim the $3500 in cash. l hope the people owed money from the 2016 tourney get a happy ending as well.

Just got a Facebook notification that "SP Swartzbaugh has just archived the Group PPC Aruba"

You can still view but no longer make comments on the page.

FWIW.

While such an added bonus could be a VERY friendly gesture, I think the players would settle for the cash.

any update on this from anyone?

Yes, updates please...I won the "champion of champions" freeroll at MD Live! for a 2017 package, lol...

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http://www.flushdraw.net/news/ppc-co...cy-protection/

Whether they succeed or not, people who were effectively scammed by them should file objections with the Court. There are plenty of instances of a Bankruptcy Court denying the protection where the debts were the product of fraudulent or criminal activities...

I am guessing that the attorney(s) involved in the filing of the original litigation will be filing an objection that will be able to be used as a template for any others who were scammed.

Pursuant to an order of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland in the matter of Deutsch, et al. v. Players Poker Championship, et al., Case Number 428812-V, please take note that a lawsuit has been filed against, inter alia, (i) Players Poker Championship, LLC; (ii) Thomas Swartzbaugh a/k/a Sandy Swartzbaugh; (iii) PPC Handling Services, LLC; and (iv) Beachside Consulting Group, LLC.

Pursuant to the same order, please be further advised that each of the foregoing defendants may contact counsel for the plaintiffs, Maurice B. VerStandig, Esq., via telephone (301-444-4600) or electronic mail (mac@mbvesq.com) to receive a copy of the summonses and complaint in the above-referenced matter.

Pursuant to the same order, please be further advised that a failure to respond to the lawsuit by the sixtieth (60th) calendar day following the date of this posting (April 28, 2017) may result in the entry of a default judgment.

Sincerely,

Maurice "Mac" VerStandig, Esq.
The VerStandig Law Firm, LLC
12505 Park Potomac Avenue, Sixth Floor
Potomac, Maryland 20854
Phone: (301)444-4600
Cell: (240)351-6442
Facsimile: (301)576-6885
mac@mbvesq.com
Twitter: @mac_verstandig

Just saved $40 fee for posting in some obscure legal/local news publication.

I keep getting notices in the mail about this. I have long given up any hope of recovering the funds that I am owed, but it would appear that some of the players have signed off some sort of settlement.

I found this language interesting:

"The Creditors are a mix of professional gamblers and amateur poker players. Without addressing any of their individual finances, it does necessarily stand to reason that they come from not the most collectible swath of society."