Poker Pro Thomas Claims Racial Bias in $31Million Fraud Case

When you’ve been charged with fraud and various other offences in a $31 million debt collection scheme, and you’re facing the possibility of 40 years in prison, you’ll likely be searching for the best defense you can find.

For poker pro Travell Thomas, that defense is one of racial discrimination – claiming that Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara has only prosecuted two debt collection company owners criminally - with both men being black.

The 37-year old, who has won over $500,000 in live tournaments, including two World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) gold rings, was named as the co-owner, president, and CEO of a debt collection company which ‘tricked and coerced’ more than $31 million from thousands of victims in the US over a five year period, although Thomas himself was paid only $750,000 it is claimed.

This money was allegedly spent on "gambling expenses, tickets for professional sports games, [his] wedding reception, jewelry, and cosmetic surgery for his wife, among other expense," stated the Attorney’s indictment.

Now lawyers for Thomas are arguing that:
"Whereas most cases are traditionally handled civilly, 100 percent of the debt collection cases that are being prosecuted against owners of debt collection companies by Mr. Bharara‘s office are being brought against black male business owners.”

Preet Bharara, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York –who was responsible for the Black Friday indictments which rocked the poker world on April 15, 2011 – has responded through his office by claiming:

"Thomas wholly fails to explain what those FTC enforcement actions involved and whether the conduct of the companies in those actions rose to the level of criminal conduct."

The defense Thomas hopes will win over the judge will have to be a good one, as he and fellow defendant co-owner and COO Maurice Sessum, face four decades in prison if they are found guilty. To that end they are seeking “internal memorandum and documents” as well as depositions of Bharara and other assistant US attorneys involved in his case.

Bharara alleged that:

"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."

He added 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.”

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.