Good thing this is a non violent crime. Even still, Micon will not do well in prison.
Can't believe he actually thought he'd get away with this.
Good thing this is a non violent crime. Even still, Micon will not do well in prison.
Can't believe he actually thought he'd get away with this.
It's a non-violent crime that can given the consequences as one since he did this in Nevada.Quote:
Originally Posted by vegas1369
Micon most likely won't be returning to the USA and if he does it won't be Nevada.
Bryan hasn't commented on his twitter but has been active re-tweeting Baltimore stuff.
If Micon does attempt to defend this (it will be interesting if he decides to return to Nevada to attempt to beat it), he can offer up two defenses:
1) Users were only gambling for bitcoin, not cash. There are no laws on the books specifically banning gambling for bitcoin, much as there are no laws banning gambling for play chips on sites like Zynga Poker.
2) He did not have the servers in his house, did not do any technical work for the site, and had no actual ownership of Seals. He was just a paid spokesman while the actual owners hid in the shadows.
However, the prosecution could counter with:
1) The three elements of gambling are Consideration, Prize and Chance. Consideration means players must pay something of value to be eligible to participate. Bitcoin definitely counts as "something of value", and Micon clearly knew this, as did all of Seals customers. Prize includes not only money, but anything of value. There was definitely a prize for winning pots, and they definitely had value. Chance means the outcome is not determined by skill. There can be arguments that poker is a skill game and "chance" isn't involved, but Nevada accepts poker to still be gambling, so this argument doesn't really apply.
2) Micon represented himself as "Chairman" of the site, not a paid promoter. He clearly took on a role similar to ownership and/or upper management. I imagine that the computers seized from Micon will provide ample evidence that he wasn't just a paid spokesman.
Perhaps a good attorney can cast enough doubt on the part of the prosecution where a deal can be struck, but I have to think it will involve at least some prison time, and likely a hefty fine. It would also likely involve a stipulation that swcpoker.eu is shut down and that Micon cannot run any further online poker sites serving Americans -- something I doubt he would be willing to concede at this point.
His case is also probably hurt by the fact that he left for Antigua to continue committing the same crime, rather than ceasing such activity and claiming that he didn't know it was illegal at the time he was committing it. Now he can't make such a claim anymore, yet he's still running basically the same site.
My opinion is that he's fucked. I also think the Attorney General wants to make an example out of him here, as this isn't just the run-of-the-mill illegal casino run out of someone's office building. This is the first-ever bitcoin gambling site prosecuted in the US, and I have to think that this Attorney General wants to make a name for himself getting the first conviction of its kind.
Seriously though, if any of you internet detectives can find the arrest warrant online, please post it here.
Before you indulge in all the schadenfreude regarding Micon's legal difficulties......
The wheels of justice turn so very slowly. These could be the greatest 2 years of Micon's life. He will immediately recognize the opportunity to be a Cause célèbre..
WSOP? Can you imagine?
He will finally have the attention and the platform he has dreamed of all his life as a C-list poker personality. You kidding me? Radio, podcasts? Fuck that.. This is an opportunity that exceeds anything he could have deliberately contrived.
He will spend more on his publicist than his lawyer.
Who will be cast as Micon in the movie?
The self described civil liberties Bitcoin/poker martyr.
We will all tune in and the nerds will give generously.
Very true! They want to set the precedent here so if he gets off too easily it will just open the door for future cases defense to find a very cheap/ lenient way out of the crime.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
Las Vegas Township Justice Court Records Inquiry
https://lvjcpa.clarkcountynv.gov/Anonymous/default.aspx
Register of Actions
Case No. 15F06274X
State of Nevada vs. MICON, BRYAN §
§
§
§
§
Case Type: Felony
Date Filed: 04/27/2015
Location: JC Department 4
Party Information
Lead Attorneys
Defendant Active WarrantMICON, BRYAN
State of Nevada State of Nevada
Charge Information
Charges: MICON, BRYAN Statute Level Date
1. Oper game estb/srv/sys w/o lic [53563] 463.160.1 Felony 04/27/2015
Events & Orders of the Court
OTHER EVENTS AND HEARINGS
04/27/2015 CTRACK Track Assignment JC04
04/27/2015 Criminal Complaint
04/27/2015 Request For Arrest Warrant
04/27/2015 Declaration of Warrant Summons (Affidavit)
04/27/2015 Arrest Warrant Request (10:15 AM) (Judicial Officer Sciscento, Joseph S.)
Result: Arrest Warrant Issued
04/27/2015 Arrest Warrant Ordered to be Issued (Judicial Officer: Sciscento, Joseph S. )
20,000/20,000
04/27/2015 Minute Order - Department 04 (Judicial Officer: Sciscento, Joseph S. )
04/27/2015 Warrant Issued
04/27/2015 Arrest Warrant - Face Sheet
04/27/2015 Arrest Warrant Confidential
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanlmar
http://www.jewornotjew.com/img/peopl...ech_powers.jpg
Dustin Diamond (Screech)
Thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by TheXFactor
This should take you right to it directly.
https://lvjcpa.clarkcountynv.gov/Ano...aseID=11683957
Edit: That worked for a bit but don't seem to now so just go enter the case number under criminal records in the original link. I was just trying to make it easier to get to but they must kick it out after a few minutes.
He's a decent choice but movies like to go younger and Dustin Diamond has been out of the acting game for a while so they will probably try to land this guy:Quote:
Originally Posted by GrenadaRogerQuote:
Originally Posted by Sanlmar
http://www.jewornotjew.com/img/peopl...ech_powers.jpg
Dustin Diamond (Screech)
http://www.altpress.com/images/uploa..._cera_2014.jpg
I get a Public Access Error when clicking your link.Quote:
Originally Posted by BeerAndPokerThanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by TheXFactor
This should take you right to it directly.
https://lvjcpa.clarkcountynv.gov/Ano...aseID=11683957
An error occurred while processing your request.
Please contact your system administrator.
Odyssey User
Configured (System)
SiteID Configured (NVCLARKJCPROD)
Mode ISAPI
Redaction
Show All
All documents are available regardless of their redaction status.
Location Clark JC Production
Transport
http://lvjcodyssey.co.clark.nv.us
The document management transport is determined based on the document location. All public access servers must have HTTP access to this server.
Error
It worked for me for about 5-10 minutes but now it don't so maybe it's some security thing in the form that kicks it out after a few minutes.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheXFactor
obviously, there is someone who would be a perfect fit for the role...
Just would also like to point out that the new AG was a nobody that came out of nowhere to win the last election. His biggest supporter was....
Very good.Quote:
Originally Posted by vegas1369
What would your reflex be to this news if you were Micon?
I would give my left nut for a meeting. Two Jews walk into a room. One says to the other.....
Micon is smooth and has a young wife.
Edit:
I am appalled at the first level thinking here. The American legal system & justice are two different things. Oh, Micon was bad so he will be punished next month. Really.
When you factor in American pop culture & new media there is so much play to be had here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanlmar
Reread this tomorrow after you shake off the hangover.
Normally you're thrilled to be indicted by the state rather than federally, but probably not at all when its Nevada and gaming.
Makes me wonder about extradition though. If the DOJ wanted him, he'd be proper fucked almost immediately. Don't know if the state holds that type of sway. Probably not. He probably should have went to Israel under right of return. They don't extradite often, and probably never for something like this. Unless, of course, Sheldon wants his ass back in Nevada. Seems like many American Jew white collar criminals have been able to skirt there unless the DOJ really wants them badly.
For his sake, I hope he does have the millions in bitcoin some have speculated. Or he better hope he becomes a cause for the Antiguan gov't after the US ignored the ruling against them. I doubt that though. He's not a big enough player for that heat.
Interested to hear from the resident lawyers. The state part is the curious angle versus the DOJ
Micon doing 5 years in a Nevada state prison is just unreal to think about. Don't think he has that in him. The weed withdrawal anxiety alone would cripple him
There exists a unique breed whose desire for attention and maybe fame supersede their instinct for self-preservation.Quote:
Originally Posted by sonatineQuote:
Originally Posted by Sanlmar
Reread this tomorrow after you shake off the hangover.
Nothing said tomorrow will diminish potential celebrity.
The worst threat of punishment, of course, is forfeiture of book/movie rights... Let's not be hasty posting the obvious/typical laws pertaining to this profiting from crime while in prison.
Lawyers may muzzle young Micon in the interim - but maybe not.
You are not playing this game correctly Sonatine. I am disappointed.
Nobody has answered the $20,000 question.Quote:
Originally Posted by BCR
i agree sanlmar, in that he almost wanted to get busted more than he wanted the site to blowup. micon wants to be seen as a sort of kim dotcom
although i think that has changed a bit in the last 24 hours as the reality of what being martyr is going to end up costing him is starting to set in
he's out of moves and is probably going through manic, megalomaniac moments interrupted by spurts of uncontrollable sobbing
Tags for this Thread
"cobson the sperm gurgler", "skatz = ghost town", 2020 pfa meetup in antigua, adventures of superaids in antigua, antigua-vapes.com. one time at an ngc party..., at least he brought his drone, at least it isn't mexico, coming 2015: seals with n-words, donkey wand vs m-16, druff getting hdeved, druff still doesnt smoke n-word weed, fuck the man, golden anteegua, grand theft bitcoin, incoming hurricane, its all a misunderstanding, jamaica? no she came of her own accord, jasep 2015 payments in bitcoin, jasep found in antigua, jewdonk measured micons rectum, jews gonna jew, justin smith less jail time than micon, knock knock....who is there? ngc...., lol swat-a-ments, martha goes black and never comes back, martha making a mandingo porn soon, martha run before baby barbecued, martha should have chose phantom, martha sucks n-word cock for bitcoin, martha+antigua=black cock buffet, marty is less of a fugitive, me nah go to prison, micon is staying with iceman's family, micon nose best, micon system of a down, micon will captain n-word olympics, micon's antiguan choice center, micon's next kid will be black, moulatto micon, n-words gonna run a train on micon, no btc for you, OSA fucks micons gay son, OSA takes it from dwan from the back, romanian server is gonna romanian server, run micon run, running from the man, seals with spades, shut up garrett, snowdened, surrounded by black people - yikes, swc mia fbi cia irs sfo, thriller dance in underpants, tony alamo all over this, twinkswithclubs.com, tyde needs swc chips, tydeconpoker.mx ?, white flight done wrong, ya mon let's drone
I can't imagine what that means. You'd think bail, but I thought that's always set at arraignment. Can't be a simple fine and it goes away or else he'd snap pay it. Probably a bond of some sort if it's not a typo. Either way, he wouldn't be getting his passport back and he'd be in for the fight.
More information will be available on his gofundme I'm sure
Everybody seems so giddy that Micon is in trouble, what the fuck? He has a family. He was running a poker site and now faces 10 years in prison. You guys are assholes.
i think people are more upset that, because he had a family, he should have handled this much differently to minimize the collateral damage they'd suffer because of his egoQuote:
Originally Posted by Zap_the_Fractions_Giraffe
he only made it much worse for him and his family by running to antigua, and AGAIN, setting up another unlicensed poker room
he had to thumb his nose at "the man", and he's not going to get the same deal he could have back when he still had options
Micon has a better chance on the streets of Baltimore right now than he does in prison.
I didn't say 'upset' I said 'giddy'. People in this thread are getting off on his misfortune like a bratty little sister watching her brother get yelled at. It's just fucked up because this is a poker forum and you are on the wrong side of the fucking fence. It's not a good thing, it's fucked up and you should be ashamed of yourselves for feeling happy about it.
GofundmeQuote:
Originally Posted by BCR
I have a feeling the well heeled nerds will come out of the woodwork here. There will be more envelopes than will be collected at his daughter's bat mitzvah (which will coincide with the final verdict).
Among the Hail Marys & continuances will include the Bitcoin angle.
He is on his knees sobbing while giving thanks Preet is not involved - yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by WillieMcFMLi think people are more upset that, because he had a family, he should have handled this much differently to minimize the collateral damage they'd suffer because of his egoQuote:
Originally Posted by Zap_the_Fractions_Giraffe
he only made it much worse for him and his family by running to antigua, and AGAIN, setting up another unlicensed poker room
he had to thumb his nose at "the man", and he's not going to get the same deal he could have back when he still had options
C'mon. His wife is a lawyer. This kid has been mapping out his legal moves for months.
I want to make it clear that I've always liked Micon and I wish him the best luck. What he did is not a real crime and you all know it.
maybe there are some people "giddy" about this happening to miconQuote:
Originally Posted by Zap_the_Fractions_Giraffe
i'm just a third party astounded by the fact that stevie wonder could have seen this would not end well for him
i don't think he has anything close to a million dollars right now, but i bet at his peak micon could have cashed out and walked away with 1m+
Start a poll then. Don't think the results would back this statement.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zap_the_Fractions_Giraffe
props to whoever tagged this "seals with spades"
lolz
debating whether it should be legal or not isn't the questionQuote:
Originally Posted by Zap_the_Fractions_Giraffe
yes, it's pretty much a victimless crime, and i don't like the government denying the rights of grown adults
but micon knew the game, and knew the rules of the game, yet still decided to play and put a big fat target on his forehead despite having a wife and a kid
reality check:
micon is about to go full lenny bruce, only without the bankroll or support.
he has a wife who swallowed his koolaid and a daughter whose probably going to spend some birthdays staring at her dad in a plexiglass cage. then again, probably not, because martha is going to have to move back in with her parents.
whatever fantasies he had about being a crusader for libertarian reform lasted exactly as long as it took for the sound of his door splintering off the hinges to wake him up.
movies? spotlight? attention?
hes literally an international fugitive with a wife and child. he got to that point by running an illegal poker site and strutting around like a peacock on bath salts; hes a champion of nothing, and no one is printing up any FREE MICON bumperstickers in this life or any other.
hes either going to move to a jungle backwater shithole where there is no extradition treaty with the US (best International House Hunter episode ever?) or he can face the music and try to end run jail time, which will bleed him to death financially long before the IRS forensic accountants start to sink their fangs into his corpse.
and the second he pops his beak up from the sand to start riffing on youtube about how uncle sam's jackboots are coming, his lawyer is going to tell him that if he ever does it again, hes splitting and keeping the fucking retainer.
so yeah unless he uses the last of his bitcoins to buy a fucking pirate ship and starts hijacking schooners with a ragtag crew of mandingo thugs, there will not be much of a story to tell here.
Don't think many people are getting off on his misfortune. Druff probably has a massive boner, but that's about it. Like Willie said, the really fucked up thing about this situation is what he did to his family and his kid. He's fucking selfish.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zap_the_Fractions_Giraffe
Yeah, that's hindsight though. I traded my bitcoins when they were at 180ish and I wouldn't have made anything if micon didn't send me a bitcoin on SWC.
I for one applaud the Las Vegas attorney general's office for doing their part to try to get a dangerous man off the streets.
I doubt Martha will have to move back in with her parents. Very smart girl with a law degree. She'll be fine.
Honestly to me that's the big mystery in all of this. I wonder what she's been thinking during this whole run. Was she supporting his every move? Giving him shit about it? Freaking the fuck out but reluctantly followed him to Antigua? She had to know this was more than likely going to end badly, especially after the raid. His "woe is me" routine about them stealing his computers, handcuffing him in front of his family and being lead out in his underwear was basically meaningless rhetoric. I have a hard time believing she was buying into all that thinking he was in the right and would have a great case if shit hit the fan.
I guess stranger things have happened though.
Wiz, FTR, I am sad for them. Micon and Martha are both really nice people IMO. On the flip side though, he had to know he was playing with fire, and at the same time putting his family in jeopardy. Personally I would never attempt to pull some shit where the end game could be me facing charges and running off to a third world country with my wife and kid to avoid them. Don't care how much money I could make, you don't do that shit to the people you love.
The go-bag packed with a bathing suit rather points to his expecting this scenario.Quote:
Originally Posted by sonatine
In fact, nothing so far has come as a surprise. He knew the law. He hasn't been hiding. This chain of events was easier to predict than your opening chess gambit.
I still contend his desire for attention supersedes his instinct for self-preservation.
The ultimate punishment is always a gamble with American legal system and every poker player feels he can bink on the river.
Regardless, there will be much conversation.
it'll be interesting to see what happens with SwC
that site was basically dead, and now who the fuck would continue playing there with the owner having a felony warrant out for his arrest
rip SwC
hope he hasn't been dipping into the player funds to get this thing off the ground. updates, info sec, etc, because there will certainly be a rush on the bank. if he can't make them whole, the hole he's buried in gets even deeper
i do know a friend of his was selling electronics for him on ebay (computers, soundboard, etc), so he def wasn't flush in liquid currency after he bounced to antigua