Nevada Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt announced charges in an investigation of an illegal online poker website.
The state has filed a criminal complaint against Bryan Micon, 36, of Las Vegas stemming from an investigation by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Micon was charged with one count of operating an unlicensed interactive gaming website between March 2014 and February 2015.
A warrant for Micon’s arrest was issued.
It marks the first state-level criminal prosecution of an illegal online poker website in Nevada’s history, officials said.
Micon is charged with operating an unlicensed interactive gaming website in Nevada. The website, known as “Seals with Clubs,” was allegedly an internet poker site that used the virtual currency Bitcoin, according to a state affidavit.
According to the affidavit, the board learned of the site in August 2013 after receiving a complaint. Later, in Skype conversations observed by gaming agents, Micon estimated that Seals with Clubs earned $10,000 to $12,000 profit each month.
Gaming Board Agent Ricardo Lopez then created an account in February 2014 and used digital currency to play poker.
“I placed bets using my chips, and won some hands while losing others,” Lopez wrote. “I had successfully purchased Bitcoin using U.S. currency and then gambled the Bitcoin on the website sealswithclubs.eu on two separate dates for a total of 30 hands of poker.”
Micon’s home was raided in February, and he was found to be editing a page at the sound. That and other evidence led to him being charged as the operator of the site.
Operating an illegal site in Nevada is a category “B” felony, and punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.
“Defending Nevada’s worldwide reputation as the ‘Gold Standard of Gaming Integrity’ is a paramount concern to the tens of thousands of Nevadans employed by the industry and the 41million tourists who visit the state each year,” said Laxalt at a press conference. “Operating or otherwise conducting gaming in the state without a license is illegal, and this office will aggressively pursue individuals and companies who seek to circumvent gaming regulations.”
According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, Micon has appealed to the public for help fighting the charges.
Micon tweeted that he had launched a gofundme.com campaign to raise $100,000 for his legal defense.
“The price for representation will quickly deplete my funds, and I am asking for donations from anyone who feels like helping me,” Micon wrote on the site. “As a husband, father of a 2 year old girl, and an outspoken Bitcoin advocate, I desire nothing more than to continue to be with my wife, raise my daughter, and continue to build layers on top of the Bitcoin protocol. The state of Nevada desires to take that away from me. Please help me fight.”
