Lowland Hum

From Fraud to Bribery: 7 Poker Players Incarcerated or Awaiting Sentencing

Cory Zeidman, sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud on Tuesday, became the latest poker player to serve time.

There are currently dozens of poker players locked up or awaiting sentencing. Some, such as Zeidman, are well-known pros and high-stakes players. This list of seven players locked up or about to be imprisoned includes some high rollers, high-profile cases, an attempted murderer, and one skilled pro you probably didn't even know is in jail.

1. Shawn Sheikhan

Shawn Sheikhan is a high-profile player who infamously feuded with Mike Matusow during the 2005 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. But his professional poker career is on hold for a few years while he serves a four-year prison sentence for conspiracy to distribute ma*****na.

"Sheiky" was sentenced in November 2023 following a guilty plea agreement in the United States District Court, Southern District of California. From a date unknown until February 24, 2022, the Iranian born poker player, per his own admission, along with his co-defendant, knowingly and intentionally conspired to distribute 100 kilograms and more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of ma*****na, a Schedule 1 controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(c) and 846.

Sheikhan, who has over $1.5 million in live tournament cashes, operated a lucrative, unlicensed ma*****na business dubbed "Cannaland." The main purpose of the business was to wholesale ma*****na and ma*****na products to illegal cannabis dispensaries, mostly within San Diego County.

2. George Janssen

George Janssen, a four-time World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) ring winner and car salesman, originally claimed to have been kidnapped in January 2024. He told police he was the victim of a $2 million extortion scheme.

But the Michigan poker pro with over $460,000 in The Hendon Mob cashes entered a guilty plea on fraud charges this past summer. How'd he go from victim to criminal? It turns out that his extortion claim was all just a big fat lie.
Janssen defrauded several credit unions by filing millions worth of fraudulent auto loans. The month before going missing for three weeks in 2023, he allegedly lost his license to sell cars in Michigan for five years for falsifying business documents.

Investigators say multiple friends of Janssen approached law enforcement "to clear their name and express concern they had been defrauded by Janssen, who convinced them to take out multiple vehicle loans."

Janssen, while awaiting his Dec. 11 sentencing, won a Major Series of Poker: The Tour (MSPT) tournament on Oct. 8 in Michigan.

3. Cory Zeidman

Zeidman, a 2012 WSOP bracelet winner, is a longtime pro who imfamously slowrolled Poker Hall of Famer Jennifer Harman during a 2005 WSOP broadcast on ESPN. He was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison on Oct. 7, 2025, after pleading guilty in 2024 for his role in an illegal sports betting scheme.

The New York poker pro initially professed his innocence to PokerNews following his arrest in 2022. But that all changed two years later when he agreed to a plea deal.

Zeidman was accused by the government of falsely claiming to bettors to have "privileged" or inside information about various sporting events and he "falsely claimed that there was no risk associated with their wages," court documents state. Zeidman placed radio ads to "lure victims."

In exchange for the information, which, according to prosecutors, "was either fictitious or obtained from an internet search," Zeidman and his co-defendants demanded that the victims pay fees and collected millions in fees between 2004 and 2020. The poker pro claimed the "privileged" sports betting information he had meant his clients would be taking on no risk betting on the games.

4. Jordan Cristos

Jordan Cristos has gone M.I.A. for a few months, and most poker players might be surprised to know the reason is that he's locked up in the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas for multiple charges ranging from domestic violence to stalking. He also picked up a charge for intimidating a public officer.

Cristos, a World Poker Tour (WPT) champion with $3.6 million in live tournament cashes, is a 38-year-old troubled poker pro who went to jail following his arrest in June. He was sentenced for domestic violence on Sept. 18 and is scheduled to be released on that charge on Oct. 20.

The California poker player is set to be sentenced for the intimidation count on Oct. 27, and he has a Nov. 5 status check court date for the stalking case. Cristos only cashed in one WSOP event this summer, and it was an online tournament. He didn't have many opportunities to cash, given he's been a little preoccupied.

5. Anthony Hutchison

Anthony Hutchison is a high-stakes private game player in Houston who had a brief cup of coffee in the NFL in the 1980s. He isn't a household name within the poker community because he doesn't play on livestreams or at the WSOP. But he regularly plays poker at nosebleed stakes, and according to court testimony, he's really bad at it.

Hutchison was found guilty in April 2025 on 21 counts related to bribing a Houston school district. The former athlete and his co-defendant Brian Busby, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Houston Independent School District (HISD), bribed district employees to favor Hutchison's businesses and overbilled customers for landscaping services, which caused "millions of dollars in loss" to a school district that paid his company.

Hutchison would, according to prosecutors, use the money he made from the HISD despite never providing any meaningful services, to fund his poker habit. Prosecutors argued that Hutchison and Busby overbilled HISD more than $800,000 each year from 2013-2020. Multiple exhibits showing five-figure payments made from Hutchison to HISD employees were presented in court.

He faces over 20 years in federal prison on 11 counts of wire fraud, six counts of bribery, two counts of willfully filing false tax returns, one count of witness tampering, and one count of conspiracy. Hutchison is out on bail awaiting his Nov. 17 sentencing.

6. Rudy Gavaldon

Rudy Gavaldon won a WSOP Online bracelet in 2023 while awaiting trial for brutally beating his wife, Lara. The Michigan poker player would inevitably plead guilty earlier this year and was sentenced to no less than 10 years in prison on June 6. He won't become eligible for parole until May 1, 2035, and is currently serving his term at the Muskegon Correctional Facility.

Gavaldon, 38, attacked his wife in July 2022 while, according to his claim, on hallucinogens. He told officers upon their arrival at the crime scene that his wife was dying and needed medical attention.

Authorities spotted Gavaldon walking in the roadway while carrying his child. His 28-year-old wife was discovered in their home and transported to a nearby hospital, and eventually med-flighted downstate to Grand Rapids Hospital, with life-threatening injuries, while he was taken into custody. Lara Gavaldon suffered an injury so severe that she required a prosthetic eye transplant.

7. Salman Behbehani

Salman Behbehani, a California poker pro with over $3.3 million in The Hendon Mob cashes, was arrested on July 16, 2021 at the Ibiza airport upon flying a private jet carrying around 30 people to the Spanish island from Las Vegas.

Investigators found in his suitcase 315 grams of co***ne, 715 grams of Tusi, 705 grams of hashish, 80 grams of M**A, and some cannabis and L*D. Behbehani was convicted of being in possession of a large quantity of substances and was sentenced to six years in prison in March 2025.

Behbehani, who comes from one of the richest families in Kuwait, was also ordered to pay a €30,000 fine. The poker pro has 10 WSOP cashes and a number of large scores, including a career-best $818,799 prize for taking second place in the 2011 Partouche Poker Tour (PPT) Main Event, a tournament won by Sam Trickett.

Hands of the Week 2025 WSOP Europe: Shaun Deeb Smashes River En Route to 8th Bracelet

Kohl Rivers Quads and Cracks Vittek's Flopped Boat

It was Level 38 (300,000/600,000/600,000) when reporter Kai Cocklin caught one of the wildest hands of the day.

Martin Vittek opened from under the gun to 1,300,000, and Jan Kohl defended from the big blind.

Both players checked the Q♣ Q♠ 7♠ flop, and when the 3♠ hit the turn, the action stayed the same — check, check.

Then came the river: Q♥. Kohl checked once more, and Vittek fired 1,500,000. Kohl thought briefly before raising to 4,000,000, and Vittek snap-called.

Kohl confidently tabled Q♦ 2♦ for quads, while Vittek flashed 7♥ 7♣ before mucking his full house.

Slow-playing likely saved Vittek from disaster — avoiding a full double-up pot for Kohl that could’ve ended his run. In the end, Vittek finished 3rd for €60,850, while Kohl went on to take 2nd for €79,350.

Elhaiany Four-Bet Rips Seven-Deuce, Tumbles Down the Counts

At Level 32 (200,000/400,000/400,000), reporter Kai Cocklin caught one of the most jaw-dropping hands of the tournament.

From the button, Daniel Elhaiany opened to 800,000, only for Stanislav Koleno to fire back a three-bet to 3,000,000 from the big blind.

Elhaiany glanced at Koleno’s stack — roughly 13,000,000 — before going deep into his time banks. After a long pause, he shoved all in, and Koleno instantly called off his stack, setting up a monster showdown.

Daniel Elhaiany: 7♥ 2♣
Stanislav Koleno: A♦ Q♥

Yes — Elhaiany had the worst hand in poker and went for glory.

The flop came 5♦ Q♦ J♦, giving Koleno top pair and a flush draw, and Elhaiany’s hopes quickly faded. The 3♠ on the turn sealed the deal, and the 8♦ on the river completed Koleno’s flush, sending him a huge double-up.

Deeb Smashes the River to Double Up

At Level 16 (20,000/40,000/40,000), reporter Kai Cocklin captured a massive clash involving poker pro Shaun Deeb.

Deeb opened from the cutoff to 80,000, and Salih Atac responded with a three-bet to 275,000 from the small blind.
Action folded back to Deeb, who four-bet to 480,000 — only for Atac to five-bet shove. Deeb quickly snap-called for his 1,440,000 stack, setting up a huge showdown.

Shaun Deeb: A♠ K♠
Salih Atac: A♥ J♣

Deeb was in great shape to double, but the flop came 6♥ J♠ 3♥, giving Atac top pair and turning the tables.

The 9♥ on the turn brought Atac a flush draw, leaving Deeb in deep trouble — needing one of just two kings to survive.

Then, the river... K♦ 💥
Deeb’s face went from despair to disbelief as he spiked top pair to score a massive double-up and stay alive in the GGMillion€.

Schnitzler Finds Huge Hero Call in Epic Hand

At Level 21 (10,000/25,000/25,000), reporter Richard Hayes caught one of the most unforgettable hands of the tournament.

Rene Schnitzler opened from early position to 50,000, only for Georgios Tsouloftas, the tournament chip leader on the button, to three-bet to 150,000. After a brief pause, Schnitzler made the call.

With his hoodie pulled tightly over his face, Schnitzler watched as the Q♠ Q♣ 10♦ flop hit the felt. He checked, and Tsouloftas continued with a 100,000 bet, which Schnitzler called.

The A♦ fell on the turn — another check-call, this time for 180,000.

Then came the 6♥ on the river. Schnitzler checked once again, and after just a few moments, Tsouloftas moved all in, easily covering his opponent.

The room went quiet. Schnitzler leaned back, unzipped his hoodie, and stared down the table. After nearly a minute of thought, he flicked in a single calling chip — looking away from the table as if bracing for bad news.

Tsouloftas: K♣ 9♦ (pure air)
Schnitzler: K♥ 10♠ (two pair, queens and tens)

The crowd erupted. Tsouloftas could only shake his head as Schnitzler realized his read was spot-on. “Amazing call!” someone shouted as he exhaled deeply, smiled, and raked in a monster pot.

Savino Eliminated in Unbelievable Hand

At Level 20 (10,000/25,000/25,000), reporter Kaelaine Minton caught an absolutely unbelievable hand that had the entire table gasping.

Ratmir Kesidis opened to 50,000 from the hijack. On the button, Yuhan Wang shoved for 2,050,000, and in the small blind, Iago Savino called off his last 355,000. Kesidis quickly got out of the way — and what followed was pure poker chaos.

Iago Savino: K♠ J♣ (all in)
Yuhan Wang: 7♠ 7♣

The flop came K♦ 7♦ J♥ — giving Savino top two pair, but also Wang a set of sevens.

Then came the turn: J♦ 😲
Savino spiked a miracle card to make jacks full of kings, roaring back to take the lead — though one of the kings had already been folded preflop, leaving just a single out for Wang.

And then… the river. 7♥ 💥

Gasps, shouts, disbelief all around the table — Wang hit the one-outer for quads!

“Oh my God!”
“Are you serious?!”
“What did we just watch?!”
And of course, the classic: “Always coming seven!” 🎰

Savino could only shake his head as he hit the rail just before the final break of the day — one of the most brutal exits of the tournament.

🃏 Poker Challenge: Who Wins This Hand?

Let’s test your poker skills 🎯

👉 Player A’s Hand: Ace♠ + King♥
👉 Player B’s Hand: Ten♦ + Ten♦

Community Cards (on the table):
2♣ – 5♠ – 10♥ – K♣ – 7♦

💡 Question: Which player takes the pot?
Is it the powerful Ace-King? Or the pocket Tens?

Drop your answer in the comments ⬇️
(And no peeking at the solution 😉)
Player B wins with Three of a Kind (Tens) against Player A’s single pair of Kings.