Lee Ends Legal Saga

Star poker player Richard Henry Lee, a 56- year old investor from San Antonio, who came in sixth at the WSOP 2006, has faced legal trouble lately. The San Antonio Police and Bexar County District Attorney's Office have been investigating allegations that Lee and several of his associates have operated a sports betting website that only pretended to be based offshore.

In a plea bargain reached by the sides on Tuesday, Lee and his associates pleaded no contest, agreed to pay fines and avoided any prison time. Much of the money confiscated in a police raid on Lee's residence last year, however, as much as 80% of the cash, will be kept by the police and DA's office.

So what is the price of freedom? Lee will pay over $2.2 million to the authorities. The sum will be taken from the $2.7 million that lee has earned at the WSOP.

Lee was not alone in facing the charges. His son-in-law, Lawrence Joseph Davenport, Matthew Colburn Winslow and Daniel Ortiz, will all pay fines as part of the deal, though considerably smaller than the amount Lee will pay, at $2,100; the sum includes $94 in court costs. A fourth employee, Marco De Carlo Hernandez, will walk away without paying any fine.

Lee will keep the rest of the personal property seized by the police in the raid, which includes luxury cars and SUVs, designer purses, jewelry and electronics

Lee, who did not contest the charges, said he's "glad it's over." He then added saying "Now I need to go win another poker tournament."

Though he is expected to appear around poker tables, starting this weekend at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, it is less likely that some of his old partners for the game will be seen with him. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff is one such high-profile partner of Lee's. Wolff said he played poker with Lee but that they were only friendly games, and he knew nothing about the bookmaking operation.

Half of the fine would go to the San Antonio Police Department and half to the District Attorney's office. It will have to be used for law enforcement purposes.
The chips Lee will keep in his hand will have to be bet wisely - and legally - this time to reach such sums again.