Travell Thomas Indicted on $31million Fraud Scam
8 years ago
22 Nov
Well-known poker pro Travell Thomas is one of 15 defendants who have been indicted on charges of fraud and âcoercive debt collectionâ, according to the US Attorneyâs Office.
The 37-year old, who has won over $500,000 in live tournaments, including two World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) gold rings, has been named as the co-owner, president, and CEO of a debt collection company which âtricked and coercedâ more than $31 million from thousands of victims in the US.
Preet Bharara, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York âwho was responsible for the Black Friday indictments which rocked the poker world on April 15, 2011 -explained in a press release that:
Thomas and the other defendants tried to trick and coerce victims into making payments to the Company by making false threats and telling a host of lies, including that the Company was a law office and that warrants would be issued for the victimsâ arrests if they failed to repay debts."
Over a five year period the indicted individuals are alleged to have collected over $31million using these methods, although Thomas himself was paid only $750,000 it is claimed. This money was spent on "gambling expenses, tickets for professional sports games, [his] wedding reception, jewelry, and cosmetic surgery for his wife, among other expense," states the Attorneyâs indictment.
Bharara added:
As alleged, the defendants engaged in what is believed to be the largest fraudulent debt collection scheme ever to be prosecuted, falsely threatening arrest and prosecution of countless Americans, including those who suffered from disabilities."
The defendants are purported to have stated that they were affiliated to local law enforcement and government agencies in a number of incidents occurring between 2010 and 2015, Bharara claiming that:
They took ruthless advantage of the desperate situation in which their victims found themselves, using threats and lies to coerce payment and even trying to collect more money than the victims ever owed.â
The Attorneyâs press release also stated that in November 2012, the Payday Loan Company learned that Thomas and his accomplices were using the company name âas a front to extort money from the people who owed them debt,â according to calvinayre.com. The PayDay Loan Company apparently asked Thomas to desist, but claims Thomas ignored their pleas and continued to ply the fraudulent scheme.
Four of Thomasâ co-defendants - Mark Lavin, Jessica Mann, John Salatino and Jennifer Sherk have pleaded guilty to one count of âconspiracy to commit wire fraudâ.
Maurice Sessum, Anthony Brzezowski, Jimmy Stokes, Heather Gasta, Tacoby Thomas, Anthony Caba, Columbus Simmons, Chares Starks, William Clark and Michael Callandra were all arrested on Tuesday along with Thomas and will appear before a Buffalo courthouse.
Bharara stated:
Thanks to the tireless work of the criminal investigators in our office, those involved in this massive debt collection scheme will no longer be able to prey on vulnerable Americans burdened by debt,"
Thomas won the WSOPC Caesars Atlantic City Event $830 NLHE event in 2011, good for $30,445, and won his second ring in 2013 at the WSOPC Caesars Palace $365 NLHE event, taking down a further $30,371.
His most recent success was a 22nd place finish in the $5,250 NLHE Championships at the 2015 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, earning him another $30,000 payday.
The case continues.
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