Convicted Scam Artist Permitted To Gamble His Way Out Of Jail

Samuel McMaster Jr. was running the scam of a lifetime. Convincing investors to put forward money with a guarantee of a large return, McMaster stole almost $500,000 from investors. After he was finally caught and charged, McMaster pleaded guilty last week to twenty-six felony charges.

The scam artist was accused by prosecutors of taking a majority of the money he stole and gambling it away in casinos. McMaster lists his occupation as a professional poker player and prosecutors have evidence of many ATM withdrawals that were made at casinos around the country.

The judge in the case has agreed to delay sentencing for six months. In that time, McMaster will have the opportunity to travel around the country and play in poker tournaments. If he successfully pays back the investors he defrauded, the judge will issue a much lesser sentence than the twelve year maximum.

"The key in this case for the defendant's attorney was to prove that McMaster had a job where he was capable of making payments to the ripped off investors," said Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz. "Once the judge accepted that poker was indeed McMaster's occupation, it made sense to give the defendant a chance to make money to pay his debts."

McMaster will now have to pay $7,500 a month to his victims. If the poker professional falls behind two payments, the judge then has the authority to bring the convicted felon back to court and impose a sentence on the spot. If that happens, there is a strong chance, according to legal experts, that McMaster will be sentenced to the full twelve year maximum.

Normally convicted felons waiting for sentencing are not permitted to leave the state they have been convicted in. Prosecutors agreed, however, that McMaster was not a violent threat to society and agreed to the terms of his traveling to play in poker tournaments throughout the country.

August 9, 2010
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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