Paul and Darren Phua Taking Chance at Court; Five Defendants Plead Guilty

9 years ago
Paul and Darren Phua Taking Chance at Court; Five Defendants Plead Guilty
15:43
06 Dec

The legal case against Paul Phua and several other defendants continues to meander through the justice system. Five of the eight persons accused of being part of an illegal World Cup betting scheme have decided to plead guilty when they appear before a federal court next week. A sixth defendant will walk away free, as all charges have been dismissed against him.

However, Paul Phua and his son Darrenwill take their chances in the courtroom, together with their attorneys Richard Schonfeld and David Chesnoff. Both Phuas maintain their innocence under the belief that the actions taken against them were unconstitutional.

To remind you, Phuas’ attorneys firmly believe that the manner in which the search warrant was obtained was against the law and also insist that evidence obtained in such a way cannot be admissible in a court of law. Chesnoff maintains that the government very liberally connected Phua to 14K Triad, - the largest Chinese crime syndicate - in their attempt to procure the warrant and get the charges off the ground.

Those who plead guilty will get away with misdemeanor charges, apart from Hui Tang, who admitted to a felony gambling charge. Wai Kin Yong is the defendant walking away free of all charges.

The Phuas, on the other hand, could face much more severe sentences if the evidence against them is accepted and they are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Should this scenario come to pass, a plea agreement will most likely be off the table, as the state has acquired hundreds of pages of documents that have been introduced as evidence.

The whole ordeal started back in the summer during the World Series of Poker when the Phuas and other defendants allegedly set up their headquarters on the premises of Caesars Palace in order to accept illegal football World Cup wagers.

This story could have an epilogue next week when the defendants are set to appear in court, but for the Phuas it could also mark the start of a long legal battle should the judge decide that the evidence collected against them is acceptable.

Chesnoff and Goldstein, who are representing the Phuas, are banking on the fact that the procedures used cannot be justified and, as such, will be deemed illegal by the judge, setting their clients free. If this plan doesn’t work out, however, it could create a very unfavorable situation for the defendants.

We will keep an eye on developments and make sure to let you know what happens next in the Phuas’ saga.


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Ivan Potocki is the editor in chief and one of the lead news writers for PokerTube. His natural flair and enthusiasm for journalism combined with a deep poker knowledge make him an exciting contributor for PokerTube.The experience garnered playing poker professionally for several years and the knowl...Read more

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