Scam Artist's Poker Lie Lands Him In Jail

Scamster Samuel McMaster Jr. persuaded a judge to let him recoup stolen money and avoid jail by playing poker. His claims of being a professional player were fanciful at best and now he's being thrown behind bars.

We reported a while back that stockbroker Samuel McMaster Jr. had made a deal with New Mexican authorities to pay back the victims of his scamming ways by playing poker. He had conned $444,000 from 20 elderly victims whose money he had promised to invest for them.

The deal made was that if he managed to pay back $7,500 a month, over 6 months, then the judge would review the case. McMaster could potentially avoid jail time or have his sentenced reduced. Otherwise he was looking at 12 years in the slammer.

The former insurance agent had been banned from working in his industry so could not put in any office hours to get the money back. He used his persuasive skills to convince the New Mexico District Court Judge, Ross Sanchez, that he was in fact also a professional poker player.

Raising the bars

The scamster set about using his poker skills to remain a free man. Only problem was, he was rubbish. He had lied about being a poker pro, which was not surprising considering he had only made $30,181 since 2003. He made a paultry $1,461 in the six months allotted to him (from a 13th place finish at a $300 Venetian Deep Stack event in November) and he was way off target.

No payments have been made to McMaster's victims, the conman is now being tested for a gambling addiction and is facing a hefty spell behind bars. His eventual admittance that: "I have never been nor will ever be a professional poker player" wrapped up his fate neatly.