Judge William B. Shubb of the Eastern District of California released a 24-page opinion to dismiss the charges against a trio of defendants in the Mike Postle cheating case. Postle got caught winning $250,000 on live streams at the Stones Gambling Hall when Veronica Brill tipped off the poker community, who in turn did their due diligence and got to the bottom of the cheating scandal. Brill filed a lawsuit against Postle, poker rom manager Justin Kuraitis, and the Stones Gambling Hall (outside of Sacramento, California).
The judge threw out the case in one of the biggest cheating scandals in the last seven or so years. Mike Postle, a mediocre grinder posted redonkulous stats during live streamed cash games sessions at Stones Live Poker at the Stones Gambling Hall. Yup, just another inside job.
Someone in the production team, or even Stones Live manager Justin Kuraitis, tipped off Postle about what opponents held because the cards had RIFD chips in them. Postle could be seen looking down at his mobile phone in his lap. That's where his partner sent him the data that he needed to make insane calls that only a superuser would make/do. Justin Kuraitis was supposed to be monitoring the security of Stones Live Poker. At the worst, he was involved directly. At the least, it happened on his watch with his handpicked staff.
All of this began when Veronica Brill noticed something was rotten in Denmark. Brill played on the stream against Postle and she also commentated. It had become quickly known at the Stones that something was amiss because they all previously played with Postle. It wasn't like he was crushing the tables before the streams like Phil Ivey or Chip Reese. But heck, even Ivey and Reese and the best of the best could not post his redonkulous win rate.
Brill made a courageous move to out the cheater. She initially brought the incidents up with Stones Gambling Hall, but they launched an investigation and found nothing.
Brill finally decided to call in the calvary. She sent her information and data to Joe Ingram, who in turn analyzed the data and watched all of the streams. Other members of the community assisted like Doug Polk and numerous others that crunched the data and analyzed the hands. Indeed, something was amiss.
As the investigation from the poker community grew deeper, Postle and Justin Kuraitis from the Stones poker room tried to gaslight his accusers.
Postle won nearly $330K (according to one investigation by the poker community) thru his shady ways.
Brill filed a lawsuit under gaming attorney, Mac VerStandig, and eventually 88 players joined the lawsuit. Those other poker players had played against Postle on the Live Stones Poker streams.
Three defendants were named: Mike Postle, Justin Kuraitis, and the Stones Gambling Hall. A total of 14 complaints were listed.
The Stones argued that gambling losses cannot be "damages".
William B. Shubb dismissed the charges in a 24-page decision.
"Disappointment is not a strong enough word, but we will continue the fight with an amended pleading," said Mac VerStandig via Twitter. "In the interim, I would encourage everyone to read the judge's opinion, which is detailed and well-written. My admiration for our clients has no bounds."
Brill also responded with a tweet, "Just letting the poker community know that if you decide to cheat on a live stream you are free to do so. There will be no accountability for your actions and you are free to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars. The casino, and employees who might help you, are not accountable."
Oh, well. Maybe justice will be served on the street level. In Saudi Arabia, thieves have their hands cut off so everyone in public knows they're a thief.
