Former Poker Pro Wade Woelfel Facing Possible Murder and Drug Charges

08:27
20 Apr

Poker pro Wade Woelfel could be facing several years behind bars after being charged with third-degree murder following the fatal overdose of a man to whom he allegedly sold drugs...

Woelfel, who has almost $2.5million in recorded live and online cashes, was out on parole when he allegedly sold illegal drugs to 44-year-old Bryan Marconcini in October of last year.

Marconcini was discovered dead in the bathroom of his Mankato home in the Blue Earth County of Minnesota on October 8th, 2021.

His girlfriend told investigators that the amphetamine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and norfentanyl found in his system had been supplied the previous day by “a man named Wade or Wayne”.

Police quickly put the possible name together with Woelfel, the former pro said to be “known to agents as both a user and a seller of narcotics,” in the area.

The criminal complaint brought against Woelfel describes surveillance footage showing a meeting and apparent drug deal between Woelfel and Marconcini.

The authorities then used an informant to set up a meeting with Woelfel, arresting him when he arrived at the fake drug deal with “numerous controlled substances, a digital scale and other drug paraphernalia”.

Investigation of Woelfel’s phone showed several calls between him and Marconcini on the day of the sale and the victim’s death, as well as “previous text exchanges” relating to buying drugs.

Third degree murder is described in the Minnesota statutes as:

“Whoever, without intent to effect the death of any person, causes the death of another by perpetrating an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind, without regard for human life, is guilty of murder in the third degree and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 25 years.”

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From riches to drugs

38-year-old Woelfel amassed $2.5million in tournament poker earnings between 2006 and 2016, some $600k plus change of that coming in the live arena.

His single biggest score was a runner-up spot at the 2012 WSOP Circuit Main Event in Atlantic City, worth $120,018, backed by another 14 five-figure paydays.

Online, Woelfel’s resume is even better, with $1,851,673 in recorded tournament cashes, and PocketFives ranking him as high as 36th spot back in 2007.

His Full Tilt account under the name “soggy dogg” boasts $835,336 in winnings, while on PokerStars he has $672,606. Ultimate Bet and Bodog earnings account for the other $300k.

Woelfel’s poker career took an enforced nosedive in 2016 when he was found guilty of selling illegal drugs, sentenced to 4 years in prison.

He found further trouble upon his release, Poker.org’s Haley Hintze tracking down multiple convictions on DWI (driving while impaired) and drug possession charges.

Although the current murder charges were filed back in February, veteran award-winning journalist, Hintze, believes that Woelfel may have escaped the worst of the charges relating to Marconcini’s death.

Woelfel’s Minnesota Department of Corrections inmate profile shows his release date as 31/05/22, with no mention of the 3rd-degree murder charge. Whether the charge has been dropped, or the system isn’t showing current or full information, is unclear.