Bicycle VP Arrested with Cohort "GCA"
RussGe...@aol.com
Scheme at Los Angeles Card Club
November 01, 2006
06-094
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(916) 324-5500
(LOS ANGELES) - Attorney General Bill Lockyer today announced the
arrest of two men accused of operating an illegal shakedown scheme at
the Bicycle Club Casino in Los Angeles. The two men, James Wang and Jim
Mar, each have been charged with multiple felony violations stemming
from their alleged extortion of more than a half-million dollars in
goods, casino playing chips and cash from Progressive Gaming Group
("PGG"), a third-party business which operated at the Bicycle Club.
The arrests stem from a long-term investigation by the Attorney
General's Division of Gambling Control ("DGC") with the aid and
assistance of Bicycle Club owners, legal staff and senior management.
Wang, who is the Vice President of Casino Operations at the Bicycle
Club, and Mar, who is a gambling consultant, allegedly used threats and
other coercive tactics to extract more than $500,000 from PGG between
2001 and 2004. Under California law, private companies are allowed to
contract with licensed cardrooms to provide so-called "prop
players", persons who play at the casino with the financial backing
of private bankers. The cardroom benefits from the arrangement by being
able to provide customers with potentially lucrative games, and the
prop player companies benefit when and if their players are successful
at the games.
PGG had a contract with the Bicycle Club to provide prop player
services, however Wang and Mar threatened to block renewal of the
contract unless the company met their various demands, including:
providing more than $450,000 in casino playing chips, a $21,000 gold
Rolex watch, and $81,000 in cash.
Wang was arrested at the Bicycle Club this afternoon on five felony
charges of extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion, grand theft, and
two counts of commercial bribery. Mar was arrested at his home this
afternoon on two felony charges of conspiracy to commit extortion and
commercial bribery. Both men were booked at the L.A. County Jail and
will be prosecuted by the Los Angeles District Attorney. Bail was set
at $130,000 for Wang and $75,000 for Mar. Additional arrests are
anticipated in this investigation.
"The Bicycle Club and other cardrooms have been strong supporters of
state and local efforts to root out corruption in the gambling
industry," said Bob Lytle, Director of the Attorney General's DGC.
"With the enactment of legislation that will increase cardroom fees,
the division will be able to obtain the manpower and resources we need
to investigate even more gambling related crimes in California.
Read More: Attorney General Bill Lockyer Announces Arrests in Illegal
Shakedown Scheme at Los Angeles Card Club
AtticusCole
Holy shit, Russ posted something that's not only from this year, but THIS
MONTH. Not only that, IT'S FROM TODAY!
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RussGe...@aol.com
This has been going on for over 10 years.
1 From: Newgca - view profile
Date: Mon, Sep 22 2003 7:01 am
Email: new...@aol.com (Newgca)
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Around 1995,1996 in the Bicycle Casino Dragon Room [the big Asian games
were
played there], a major scam was going down. In the early hours of the
morning,
as the cleaning crews were cleaning the casino and the Dragon Room, the
scam
was in play. The Dragon Room had two floors with 3 big games at the top
and
four smaller games on the bottom. This may have changed since then.
When the cleaners came to the Dragon room, they would start on the
bottom level
and move up to the higher level.. After cleaning the bottom level,
management
would ask customers to temporarily move down to the bottom level while
they
cleaned the top level. They would wait until the current shoes were
dealt out
and then move the people down. Each person would have the identical
seat in the
game.
What customers were unaware of was, the shoes were all "cold decks"
[prearranged shoes]. The targets were the bankers. Certain customers
were part
of this highly deceptive scam, where all bankers would lose or go broke
on this
shoe. The action would pick up dramatically for the next 30 minutes or
so and
the "bankers" would be annihilated.
James Wang and his "bicycle crew" were in charge of this methodical
slaughter,
that occurred several times a week for approximately a year. Ron Ying
was one
of his "managers" at the Bicycle Casino at this time. Primary targets
were
Asian females who didn't know any better. The shift of casino employees
would
methodically slaughter anyone who banked. Anyone else was not able to
get a bet
down as every spot was bet by the "scammers".
Information leaked out and a few lawsuits were filed and settled. Much
damage
was done to players who trusted the house security to protect them. Ron
Ying is
currently no longer working at the Bicycle Club, but has filed a
lawsuit
against it. James Wang is still working. Millions were won yet pennies
paid
out. Non-discourser documents were signed.
James Wang was involved when the Bicycle Club was taken over by the
U.S.
Government around 1990. It was recommended he be fired, yet he sued and
was
reinstated, or put back into a position where he continued to do as
much damage
as possible to the players in the Asian Section. People may think what
they
like, but James Wang was the real power in the Bicycle club for many
years. He
is still employed there.
Around 1999 the Bicycle hired a former employee named Mike Aguilar in
the Top
Asian Section. He had just been released from a European jail for
"fixing
jackpots" [cold-decking them] in Vienna, Austria. It seems GCA is the
only one
that knows these things. Mike's conviction must surely be part of a
European
prison record, yet the Bicycle still hired him.
I, Russ Georgiev was here at this time and observed this. Was I the
only person
who knew this? I don't think so. Any investigation into this would
surely bring
out the lawsuits that have been filed by people who were "cheated" out
of
their money.
These are the casinos in California people are playing in. I will go
into
detail on some of the practices used at the Commerce Casino. It was no
different there.
Another employee of the James Wang regime is involved in a major
"criminal
investigation and prosecution" in Northern Cal, Bay 101. It has been
written
about. He was to go on trial for racketeering, loan sharking, cheating,
prostitution and extortion etc. He has since been convicted. He was
also part
of the James Wang regime. I can't remember his name at this time.
Meanwhile
several months ago it was the main story in the San Francisco papers. A
little
research will reveal this.
Russ Georgiev
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2 From: OrangeSFO - view profile
Date: Mon, Sep 22 2003 10:09 am
Email: turgor...@aol.com (OrangeSFO)
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WHO sits down in a brand new game without seeing the cards thoroughly
shuffled?
Reply Rate this post: Text for clearing space
3 From: nospam - view profile
Date: Mon, Sep 22 2003 10:43 am
Email: "nospam" <nos...@nospam.rr.com>
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In Russ world everyone else is blind.
"OrangeSFO" <turgor...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:a9255354.03092...@posting.google.com...
> WHO sits down in a brand new game without seeing the cards thoroughly
shuffled?
AtticusCole
> Groups: rec.gambling.poker
> Not yet ratedRating:
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>
>
> In Russ world everyone else is blind.
>
>
> "OrangeSFO" wrote in message
> > Block Lists, Favorites, and more - /
Oh, sorry. I don't actually take the time to ever read your rehashed garbage, I
just thought that for once, you posted something that didn't happen before the
Reagan administration.
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johnny T
I am naive. What exactly here doesn't look like a contract negotiation?
Were they asking for something illegal? It sounds like they were
asking for spiffs for signing the contract. This is illegal? In L.A.?
RussGe...@aol.com
that be always interveniened. How many Bicycle employees have to be
arrested before you FKING morons wake up about the corruption in the
casino's?
Ron Ying, another former employee of the Bicycle was arrested a few
years back in Northern Ca., after leaving the Bicycle, where he used to
be James Wang right hand man.
And Haig Kelligian KNEW, cause I told him. His reply, "TELL ME
SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW".
Russ Georgiev
brewmaster
running for Treasurer of CA. LOLOLOL.
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RussGe...@aol.com
this BS has been going on for over 10 years, plus I posted it many
times.
Russ Georgiev
Email: "nospam" <nos...@nospam.rr.com>
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In Russ world everyone else is blind.
"OrangeSFO" <turgor...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:a9255354.03092...@posting.google.com...
> WHO sits down in a brand new game without seeing the cards thoroughly
shuffled?
AtticusCole
On Nov 7 2006 12:57 AM, RussGe...@aol.com wrote:
> Yes, Russ posted something from this year, even this week. However,
> this BS has been going on for over 10 years, plus I posted it many
> times.
Russ, EVERYTHING you post has been posted many times. If we didn't care the
first time, what makes you think the 14th time is going to be any different?
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RussGe...@aol.com
Date: Mon, Mar 7 2005 11:26 am
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Around 1997 I was working in the Bicycle club. Bruce Migdal was the
"Head of Poker Operations'. I think this was his title. Whatever the
case, he was in charge of the Hi-level section of poker at the Bicycle
Club. Bruce and I were very good friends at this time and basically had
no secrets from each other.
At this time in his life Bruce Migdal was having serious family
problems. He had moved out of his Rancho Cucamonga house and moved into
a unit in a 6 plex in Santa Monica. It may have been an 8 or 7 plex.
Bruce owned this complex. One of his tenants had moved out and Bruce
moved into the unit.
Bruce was talking about getting a divorce and about the separation he
and his wife were having at this time. We had many discussions on this
subject. He talked about not being able to see his son everyday, as he
adored him. He also talked about what a divorce would do to his
financial condition. He was not happy at the prospect of "community
property" and alimony. Let alone he would not be able to see his son
everyday.
One day an associate and myself visited Bruce Migdal in Santa Monica.
We had to park a distance away so as not to let any of his tenants see
us. Some of his tenants used to be and were poker players we scammed.
We met on one evening to get all signals and communications exact.
We met on a second story unit where Bruce was living for the time
being. We discussed the more intricate details of "cheating" and how
since Bruce was in he would always be in. We were a team. We were a
"cheating pack" with Bruce being the "parsley" or the garnish to make
the table complete. Bruce gave the scam all the credibility in the
world. I and my associate also supplied Bruce with all the money to
operate when he played with.
Bruce was complaining about how he wasn't focused on poker at this time
and how much money it was costing him to start the small games. We took
over by putting the whole operation in as one unit. Bruce would no
longer have any loses. We would cover everything. I had as many as 10
cheats scamming the Bicycle on a given day.
Bruce was in a better state of mind after this. He was tired of cashing
in CD's and keep losing them. We advanced Bruce $10,000 for a temporary
cash shortage he was experiencing. Before long Bruce's mind was much
better. He was back with his wife. The Bicycle Top section had gone
from 2 bad games at most when Bruce arrived to as many as 17. The top
section was cooking.
Every thing was fine. Money was being made by every one. The numbers
for the "books" was way up. Bruce looked like a hero. He also received
a hero's salary from the Bicycle. I received my just dues also. I had
no schedule on an $80,000 a year job, that was a front for my other
activities.
Anyone who played at the Bicycle during this time was aware of the
power I wielded in the casino. About a year later Bruce made a fatal
mistake for the Top section and for the rest of us. He introduced a
drop into all of the games in the top section. Playing heads-up would
now cost $1 a hand. Five handed $2 a hand and six handed $3 a hand.
Imagine what this did for those short games? Say you were playing 3
handed $20-$40. The cost of playing short before this would have been
$6 or $7 a half hour. Every other collection would be free. Thus you
would only drop $18 or $21 an hour. With the drop coming in it became
$50-$60 and hour.
While it may have saved people a dollar or two it would kill all the
short games. It would kill the border line professionals. It would kill
the top section. Bruce and I talked about this, but he wanted to make
himself a "bigger man" in the industry. He "conned" the people for a
while until they realized the truth of the situation. Soon the top
section was crumbling because of this decision. I had built the "top
section" for Bruce Migdal and he had torn it down. We had some serious
words.
Bruce was back to feeling better and was no longer separated from his
wife. His home life was better. I had worked hard to build the Top
Section of the Bicycle up. Bruce tore it down. The numbers were
plummeting. No one was coming in. Bruce took matter's into his own
hands for the first time. He didn't consult me.
Bruce Migdal hired Bob Golick and Diane Wynn to work as "hosts" in the
Top Section. He thought this would change things around. I told he had
already sunk the ship. We basically told each other to "f+++ Off. I
went on a leave of absence to play poker in Europe. When I came back
things had become even worse. However great modifications were made in
the drops. Bruce had realized the mistake he made. He didn't admit it,
however. Soon Bruce and the others would be gone.
Business was getting so bad that I took another leave of absence. My
wife was misdiagnosed with having HIV It was caught on the second round
of tests. However this situation went on for a month while the testing
took place. Mentally it was very emotional. Very much for her. I don't
think she ever got over it. We are now getting divorced.
In late 1995 or early 1996 Bruce Migdal and I were talking about what
bonus Bruce would receive if he kept the $60-$120 eight or better stud
game going for me. Some times we played much higher. This game was
played at the Hollywood Park Casino when it opened. Many people would
lose $20,000 in one play. Much money was lost in this game. For a
"bonus"I told him I would make him a celebrity in poker.
Around the beginning of 1996 I took out a "FULL ONE PAGE ADD" in Card
Player Magazine. I had Bruce Migdal named as "my vote for man of the
year in the poker industry." It featured a picture of Bruce Migdal. I
signed it ANONYRUSS. The add if I remember cost me $1,500 for a full
page. This add was taken out for the promotion of Bruce Migdal by Russ
Georgiev. It was also for my benefit as the higher Bruce Migdal
advanced the more money we could make. I had just got through with
Hollywood Parks $60-$120 game. No one survived. Bigger was better, but?
Bruce would feed me by having "props" [paid house players] play short
handed with me. I barbecued them. Though I was on the payroll, no one
really knew. Bob Golick was lucky one day and found out I worked at
Hollywood Park, after investigating the matter further. Bruce would
tell them to start 3 handed with me. They had not yet learned I was
also employed by the casino. Bob and Shirley, I present you with Bruce
Migdal, your friend and buddy. Your boss. How do you like it now?
Bruce Migdal and I did much business together, especially in the
Bicycle Club. However we were small potatoes to what was happening in
the Asian section of the casino. Here there was systematic slaughter of
anyone who ventured in at the wrong time. I will get to this issue
later. James Wang was in charge over here. Together with a smaller
manager named Ron Ying [who is now also suing the Bicycle and James
Wang] $1,000,000's were cheated out of people. I was there. I saw it.
Russ Georgiev
David Nicoson
> Holy shit, Russ posted something that's not only from this year, but THIS
> MONTH. Not only that, IT'S FROM TODAY!
Surely not. Maybe it's BC.
RussGe...@aol.com
answers', which I posted here. But, those skeptics and loons, who think
the cheating has gone away, every three or so years, someone is
arrested in Ca. management, yet cheating has gone away.
Yet, prior to these arrests, I pointed all this out on the FAMOUS
CHEATING TAPES. I stated it was and had been going on for years.
Russ Georgiev
RussGe...@aol.com
pokerchimp
the hundreds of people who may be lurking. Don't assume everyone has been
here for a long time and read the posts by Russ. Some people are new.
They haven't seen his posts. Let them make up their own mind. I'm sure
when I was new I read posts by Russ that had been posted and reposted.
WTF do you care? You seemed to be obsessed with Russ. Why do you follow
him around bitching at him for posting? RGP is not moderated. He has a
right to post anything he wants( and I suppose you have a right to bitch
when he does, but what is your point?)
On Nov 7 2006 1:06 AM, AtticusCole wrote:
> On Nov 7 2006 12:57 AM, RussGe...@aol.com wrote:
>
> > Yes, Russ posted something from this year, even this week. However,
> > this BS has been going on for over 10 years, plus I posted it many
> > times.
>
> Russ, EVERYTHING you post has been posted many times. If we didn't care the
> first time, what makes you think the 14th time is going to be any different?
thumbers on stars, pokerchimp1 on absolute
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BeaForoni
and a liar. Because of the quotes and attachments and sig lines I am
not sure who wrote what, but I suspect it was Russ Georgiev.
Because I am top posting allow me to recapp the "story". Apparently
there was a conspiricy to defraud pai-gow poker players at the Bike
Club. The plot was alledged to involve moving players to another table
with a shoe already preloaded with losing hands set to be dealt to the
designated dealer thereby allowing others to profit.
Nevermind that no player would allow the shoe to be dealt without
shuffling or at the minimum the deck cut; the rules of pai-gow poker
could never allow this type of cheating. For this reason I am calling
the author of this "story" either a LIAR or a crazy loon who doesn't
know what they are talking about. Allow me to explain in detail.
When playing pai-gow poker before the hands are given out, the bets
are made. Then a set of three dice are shaken in a cup and then
revealed. The purpose of the dice is to determine which player gets the
first hand and which player gets the next and so on around the table.
The dice determines which player(s) get the hands that are monsters and
which players get a load of bricks. The dealer gets one of these hands
and that is determined solely by the dice.
So, in order to rig the game one would need to fix the deck and also
to load the dice. Even then the dice would need to come out exactly the
same each time, not something that would happen without raising a great
deal of suspiscion. And that is why whoever wrote this story is alot
less than honest.
Regarding the shakedown of prop players, this is not cheating. It is
crooked, it is corrupt, and it is not nice, but it is not cheating. I
wonder even of this story. I have known several prop players and every
one of them eventually goes broke. Sure they get a few hundred dollars
in chips, but then they are required to play for eight hours and must
play in any assigned game that the casino requires. There are very few
players who have mastered the many types of poker played at the Bike
and then be forced to play them when ordered. I see very little profit
in this proposition and to think the prop could be made to pay bribes
on top of this makes it even more far fetched.
There is only one type of liar I can respect and that is one who has
cards in front of him. The rest go <plonk>.
bjgka...@aol.com
BeaForoni wrote:
> Who ever posted the story regarding the pai-gow poker scam is an idiot
> and a liar. Because of the quotes and attachments and sig lines I am
> not sure who wrote what, but I suspect it was Russ Georgiev.
The story you're recapping below is an old one. The OP in this thread
refers to an arrest that was made on Nov. 1 this year at the Bicycle
Casino. The crimes weren't for cheating in PaiGow, but were for
extorting money from the PGG corporation, a third party company, that
operates in the Bicycle Casino. The two men involved were accused of
taking over a half million in cash, chips, and expensive items from the
company in order to approve their new contract. Maybe you're answering
the wrong thread?
Barbara Gallamore
RussGe...@aol.com
BeaForoni wrote:
> Who ever posted the story regarding the pai-gow poker scam is an idiot
> and a liar. Because of the quotes and attachments and sig lines I am
> not sure who wrote what, but I suspect it was Russ Georgiev.
You're the IDIOT and LIAR. When the games first came into existence,
cheats brought their own hands to the game and switched cards, as in
the Pan 9 games. They brought their own 9. I was there you loon, plus a
part of it. Or perhaps, I don't know what I did?
Russ Georgiev