Kristian P. Lusardi is a criminal and semi-amateur poker player known for the 2014 Borgata Poker Chip Scandal (also known as Borgata Chipgate Scandal)[1] in which he implemented fake chips into a live poker tournament known as the Pro-Amateur U.S Winter Championship (also known as the Borgata Winter Poker Open).
Criminal activities edit
Lusardi was originally suspected in a case dating back to 2010 when he then subsequently was arrested in January, 2014 after authorities found a total of $3,6 million worth of tournament - counterfeit chips - clogging the pipes having been flushed down the toilet in what appeared to be Lusardi's vacant hotel room.[2]
DVD bootlegging edit
At a house warrant in Lusardi's home federal forces found over 37,000 pirated DVD.[3]
In April 2015, Lusardi pled guilty to two federal charges which included copyright infringement and trafficking in counterfeit labels.[3]
Poker chip counterfeit edit
Lusardi was suspected to have used counterfeit chips in the Borgata Main Event. On 13 August 2015, Lusardi pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree trademark counterfeiting and third-degree criminal mischief.[4]
Poker activities edit
The counterfeited chips had been in use to boost Lusardi's stack in the live tournament 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open[5] in which Lusardi subsequently finished in the money for $6,814.[2][6]
Other poker ventures edit
Lusardi finished runner-up in the New Jersey Low Stakes Championship (World Series of Poker Circuit (Atlantic City)) in 2008 for $29,189.[7]
Sentencing edit
In October 2015 Lusardi was sentenced to five years in prison.[4][6]
In January 2017 it was reported that Lusardi had been released from prison.[8]
References edit
- ^ "Christian Lusardi Officially Indicted in Borgata Chipgate Scandal". Pokerstake. July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ a b "Man Owes Atlantic City's Borgata Nearly $500K After Using, Flushing Fake Poker Chips". NBC Philadelphia. August 13, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ a b "Alleged Borgata Chipgate Mastermind Jailed for Copyright Infringement". Pokerstake. April 8, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ a b "Man Sentenced to Prison for Bringing Counterfeit Chips to Borgata Poker Tournament and Flushing $2.7 Million in Phony Chips Down Toilet". State of New Yersey Department of Law & Public Safety. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ "2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open". Pokernews. January 18, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ a b "Man Who Brought Fake Chips to Poker Tournament in Atlantic City Gets Prison". NBC Philadelphia. October 22, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ "Christian Lusardi's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database.
- ^ "Borgata Chip Fraudster Released After Just 6 Months". Onlinepoker.net. January 17, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2023.