According to a New York newspaper, poker professional Amnon Filippi will be participating in the 2013 World Series of Poker while he awaits trial for his involvement with a drug case in the Empire State.
The New York Daily News’ Dareh Gregorian reports that Filippi, who is one of the more successful professionals on the tournament poker circuit, has been allowed to travel to tournaments across the United States even though he is facing charges of felony conspiracy to distribute marijuana from an arrest in October 2012. After his first hearing, Filippi was released on bail but with severe restrictions on his activities.
After paying the $250,000 bond, Filippi had to surrender his passport and restrict his travel to the immediate area surrounding New York City. To monitor that situation, it was also ordered that Filippi would wear a monitoring bracelet that would notify authorities of his location at all times. Because of his job, however, Filippi has been able to negotiate some changes to those release deals.
In November, Filippi was able to get Judge Ronnie Abrams to agree to a ten day trip to the Borgata in Atlantic City and another two week trip in December to play in tournaments in Las Vegas. In each case, Filippi had the bracelet removed and returned at the appointed time, leading Judge Abrams to allow him to continue to play in poker tournaments across the country, including several World Poker Tour stops through the early half of 2013. With the court case still pending, Filippi has now been granted permission to travel to Las Vegas for the WSOP, which began on Wednesday.
The reason for this? According to Gregorian’s attorney, Jeremy Schneider (and anyone with a passing knowledge of the law), Filippi’s profession is that of a poker player. As such, the travels are done in pursuit of his work. “This is his job,” Schneider is quoted by Gregorian, “this is how he earns a living.”
Schneider also points out that Filippi hasn’t violated any of the conditions placed on him by Judge Abrams when he takes these trips. “Whenever the probation person wants him to check in, he checks in,” Gregorian quotes Schneider. “He’s never missed an appointment, he’s done everything he’s supposed to do.” Gregorian attempted to get comment from the prosecutors in the case, but was rebuffed.
Federal drug enforcement agents raided what they called a “grow house” in the Bronx, NY, in October where they found over 100 marijuana plants being cultivated. Filippi was arrested with two other people for their alleged involvement in the case and charged with felony conspiracy. Although it isn’t known what level of felony the charge is, Filippi could face lengthy jail time if convicted of the charge.
It does appear that the court case has had an effect on Filippi’s play. Since his arrest in October, Filippi has only one case to his credit in a preliminary event at the L. A. Poker Classic in February. Up to the point of his arrest last year, Filippi had eight cashes in tournaments, including five at the 2012 WSOP that culminated with a 39th place finish in the $10,000 WSOP Championship Event.
Over the entirety of his career, Filippi has earned over $3 million in tournament poker winnings which include the championship of the 2005 Bellagio Cup. He also finished fourth in the 2007 $50,000 WSOP H.O.R.S.E. World Championship (the predecessor to the Poker Players’ Championship) and was the runner up at the 2009 World Poker Tour Foxwoods Poker Classic.
Comments on Gregorian’s story side with Filippi on his travels, knowingly indicating that if poker is his job, then he should be allowed to travel for those circumstances. “It’s his job,” one poster commented, “The real problem here is that people are still being prosecuted for marijuana cases.”
Filippi’s first foray into the fray in Las Vegas brought some interesting Tweets from the poker pro. “Had KK three hands in a row, what’s the true odds of that to happen,” Filippi commented. The outcome of those three hands wasn’t what he would have liked, however. “Lost versus AA first time, called by big blind on second (he folded flop) and got a walk on the third,” Filippi Tweeted. Hopefully, those cards will continue to come, Filippi will have a good WSOP and take care of his legal situation once the WSOP ends.