Poker Pro Joshua Thatcher Pleads Guilty to Running Illegal Poker Room

Poker pro Joshua Thatcher has pleaded guilty to running an illegal poker room, facing probation and forfeiting seized assets. Thatcher charged members fees for membership and chair rental.

Joshua Thatcher was charged with six felony counts, including two counts of using computers to commit a crime, and a high misdemeanour count of permitting a gambling house for gain. Thatcher agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of Gambling Operations. As part of his plea agreement, Thatcher agreed to give up all items seized from the poker club, including six poker tables, $13,050 in cash, as well as other money held in bank accounts connected to the 906 Poker Social investigation.

The case was prosecuted by the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s office, with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel stating: “My office remains committed to upholding business rules and regulations, and that includes our state’s gambling laws.” Thatcher described how he charged members of the 906 Poker Social a fee based on weekly, monthly or yearly membership, plus a $10 per hour chair rental fee. Thatcher revealed: “I actually got permission from the Michigan Gaming Control Board… All I was trying to do was create a professional, safe environment to play cards.”