Remember this story from earlier this year that seems to have taken place in Bizzaro World: After defrauding numerous elderly clients out of some $440,000, Samuel McMasters was sentenced by a New Mexico court in August to make reparations of $7,500 per month by playing professional poker! The judge in the case thought this to be the only feasible way any money would be recovered from McMasters.
Well it turns out that Mr. McMasters may have conned the court, in addition to the 30 or so senior citizens he bilked in his scam. At a scheduled court appearance McMasters has only shown $1,462 in winnings up to this point –and is likely losing since the records do not mention buy-in amounts for the tournaments he has played. McMasters told the court he had lied to the judge about being a professional poker player, and used the unorthodox offer to avoid jail.
Now McMasters will be sentenced on the 26 felony charges he was found guilty of, and it’s likely the court’s sentencing will be a little on the harsh side after McMasters admission that he originally lied to the court. McMasters could face up to 12 years in prison for his crimes.
In addition to being sentenced, McMasters will also undergo a gambling addiction evaluation, which seems like a good idea after he not only gambled away the initial money he stole, but has failed to pay any restitution to his victims since striking the plea-bargain deal in August.
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