UPDATED 3-8-2008: RICHARD LEE's
WHO'S WHO?
The Chinaman's Lists Revealed
CLICK
FOR Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4
Heavily
edited copies of Bettors' Lists, as preseneted by
Express-News
* * *
EXPRESS-NEWS CONFIRMS LIGHTNING SERIES
Some Big Local Names Are On Gambling
Lists
Guillermo Contreras, Express-News
(Editor's
note: The following story is from the Express-News,
and confirms details covered by the Lightning over a
year plus change. See archives below.}
Bexar County District
Attorney Susan Reed on Tuesday released
"players lists" seized during a police
investigation of an online bookmaking operation
run by San Antonio's most infamous poker player,
Richard Henry Lee.
The list contains names of
lawyers, restaurateurs, real estate agents,
doctors, dentists, car dealership owners,
salesmen and others in San Antonio and throughout
Texas who police had suspected were clients of
Lee's online site, www.betbsbnow.com. Police shut
the site down during a gambling investigation
recently, and no one on the list was prosecuted.
Some prominent people on
the list stand out, but sources familiar with
bookmaking operations and online gambling said
the way the list was kept appears to protect big
bettors or other important people because several
are identified only by initials, a number or
nickname — "GG," "Pops,"
"Oso" and "Yahtzee," for
example. (Click for more from
Express-News.)
* * *
 |
|
TWO MORE LISTS SURFACE
Gambling List To Be Destroyed?
Lists Of Prominent Local
Bettors, Said To Include
Lawmen, Judges, Politicians And
'Sports Figures'
SAL POLITICAL SNITCH - Copyright
1-9-2008 |
Read 'em and weep.
Two more lists have surfaced in the
Chinaman's gambling case!
But first...
* * *
It is beginning to look as if the now
infamous and top secret gambling journal compiled by
celebrity bookie Richard Lee may be destined for the
dustbin.
Late last year Lee, known as the
"Chinaman," was dealt a misdemeanor plea
and tossed in his chips, walking away from a pot
worth over $2 Million.
Here is a record of siezed property and
cash.
The property was returned to Lee. The
cash taken in the raid and money in numerous bank
accounts were not.
But what about the bettor lists?
The fate of what should be public
documents are being suppressed until an Attorney
General's opinion on "open records" is
rendered. The DA's office says they are too
"embarrassing."
Click for DA's
Letter To Greg Abbott, Attorney General - PDF file
The Lightning, which first filed for the
information twice last year, has been told by
Jaqueline Murphy of the DA's office that Abbott could
take "months" to make a determination.
As there are said to be politicians and
government officials named in the records, insider
odds-makers give 2-1 that the lists, if ever
released, will come after the March primaries.
Is this what passes for the highly
touted "transparency in Government?"
Or is it just another fast shuffle?
* * *
Not only is the Chinaman's bookie
information at issue here.
There are two other lists as well!
No, they are not actually written down
anywhere. But they do exist.
One includes some of the rich, famous
and powerful that control the City.
They are the A-list, virtually
untouchable.
The laws do not apply to them.
Then, there are the commoners for whom
the laws are written. Woe to John Q Sucker if he runs
afoul of the statutes. This we call the D-list.
There is an increasingly widening gap
being built in San Antonio society. It's a new
aristocracy.
This we will simply call a Royal Flush.
Much more to follow.
- Developing -
See Below For Background - Archived in
reverse order.
* * *
DA STALLS RELEASE OF GAMBLING
LISTS
'IT'S
EMBARRASSING'
Assistant
District Attorney Terminated For Gambling With
'Chinaman'
SAL Political Snitch - Copyright 12-12-2007 By SAL
A listing of gamblers, seized
in the raid of celebrity San Antonio bookie Richard
"The Chinaman" Lee, contains the names of
judges, lawmen, and sports figures, the Lightning has
learned -- and one of those named was an assistant
district attorney.
Amid rampant speculation and
despite public outrage the DA's office halted the
release of the list to the Lightning, which has
sought the documents for over a year.
The Express-News and KENS TV
recently made a similar request.
Lee took a misdemeanor plea
deal, and forfeited over $2 Million. As far as the
Lightning could find that is a record fine for a
"minor" crime.
Below is an excerpt of the DA's
objection, in a letter to the Attorney General,
seeking to keep the lists secret.
Click for complete
letter - PDF file
* * *
The question
here is not about embarrassing innocent citizens.
It is not a
question of the merits of illegal gambling.
It is a
question of the "who's who," and are they
public servants?
Many bets were
in the $10,000 range; more than enough to influence a
judge or cop, or others, in the final quid pro quo.
* * *
One final note.
City attorney
Charles Weir, who handles open records request,
likened the privacy issue to the protection of rape
victim's names.
Kind of a
reach...unless the rape victim took Dallas and the
points on any given Sunday.
Developing.
Much more to
follow.
* * *
Previous Stories Below
YOU SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO KNOW
DA
Says Bettor Lists Need Not Be Public
A list of
alleged gamblers who placed bets through an Internet
site operated by San Antonio poker star Richard Henry
Lee is potentially embarrassing and should be
withheld from the public, District Attorney Susan
Reed's office has told the Texas attorney general.
Local media
asked for a copy of Lee's gambler list, and Reed's
office sent a letter dated Wednesday to Attorney
General Greg Abbott arguing against its release.
Reed's office argued that the list would embarrass
the alleged gamblers and violate their privacy if it
were made public.
"It is
hard to argue that the public has a legitimate
concern to know the identity of individuals who place
bets over the Internet," Assistant District
Attorney Jacqueline Cullom Murphy wrote in the
letter. (More from
Express-News.)
* * *
ARCHIVES IN REVERSE ORDER
UPDATE
Gamblers'
Lists On Hold
DA's
Office Seeks Attorney General Ruling
In
Release Of Names Seized In Richard Lee Raid
Judges,
Community Leaders Said To Be 'Among The Names'
At
Least One County Employee Cited In Documents Has
Resigned
Developing - More To Follow
* * *
 |
|
AFTER
A YEAR-LONG SAL PROBE
Who Bet With Celebrity
SA Bookie Richard Lee?
The 'Chinaman's List' Finally
Set
To Be Published In The Lightning
City Lawyer Charles Weir
Confirms Open
Records Release; Awaits SAPD
Compliance
SAL POLITICAL SNITCH |
(Editor's note:
Documents required to be released to the Lightning
under the open records laws are slow in coming,
despite the City's promise that they would be
released to us "early" this week. Standing
by.)
Time for all cards on the table!
Listings of the bettors with famous San
Antonio bookie Richard "The Chinaman" Lee
will finally be released to the San Antonio Lightning
this week, according to Charles Weir, a city attorney
in charge of the open records request.
Lee copped a plea to misdeameanor
gambling charges and paid $2.5 million in forfeitures
following a raid on his gambling facilities and bank
accounts last year. (See stories below, archived in
reverse order.)
Captured at that time were lists of
hundreds of his players.
The Lightning filed an open records
request for the information last year, but was denied
access. The request was renewed folllowing Lee's
conviction.
According to Charles Weir of the City
Attoney's office, the files are in the process of
being copied and will be released to the Lightning
this week.
At that time, the Lightning will publish
all names on the list. The documents will also be
offered to all media in San Antonio for free.
Developing.
- Much More -
* * *
EXPRESS-NEWS PHOTO
|
|
WHAT
ABOUT THE LISTS?
SA's Richard 'The Chinaman' Lee
Forfeits $2.5 Million, Avoids Jail Time
But What About Bookie Lists
Confiscated
By SAPD? Will They Finally Be
Made Public?
SAL POLITICAL SNITCH - Copyright
10-17-2007 |
A long investigation which began in
September of last year has apparently ended for the
gambler known as "The Chinaman," but many
questions still linger in the case.
* * *
Local bookie Richard Henry Lee threw in
his cards Tuesday in a plea deal that saw felony
gambling charges reduced to misdeameanors, for his
involvement in a multi-million dollar gaming racket..
Lee, a celebrity poker player, was
making bets with local notables. According to a Ken
Rodriguez article in the Express-News, bets of as
much as $10,000 were not uncommon.
As part of the plea, Lee and four other
men who worked for him, had to forfeit $2.5 million
seized in raids at Lee's home and from numerous bank
accounts he shared with his accomplises. (See related stories below.)
The is to be
divided equally between the SAPD and District
Attorney's office for law enforcement uses. Other property, including
expensive cars, electronics and firearms will be
returned.
All five men received 30 day adjudicated
probation. None will see the inside of a jail cell.
* * *
But the story doesn't end
there.
Lee kept detailed lists of his
gambling clients. HUNDREDS of them. Who are they?
According
the an early Express-News column last year, Ken
Rodriguez quoted an unnamed source as saying
prominent political figures, judges and well known
community leaders were on those lists.
Indeed, when first confronted by police
during the search and seizure at his home, according
to the Rodriguez piece, an unidentified lawman quoted
Lee's words.
""He
(Lee) mentioned Nelson Wolff and Phil Hardberger
by name," one officer said. " He said,
'I have powerful friends in the community.'"
* * *
Yikes.
"I don't have any
involvement with Richard Lee's gambling
operation," said the Mayor.
Phil Hardberger has been adamant about
distancing himself from the accused mobster, to the
point that he has tossed the ugly and embarrassing
monkey onto political pal Judge Nelson Wolff's back.
"I actually knew about him
(Richard Lee) through Nelson Wolff...I guess
Nelson knows him personally...I wish him (Lee)
the best," the Mayor said.
* * *
The Lightning has requested the lists --
described as "extremely lengthy" by City
Attorney Charles Weir -- under the Open Records Act.
The documents were denied because of the ongoing
investigation. (Click for the
letter from the City.)
The Lightning has now renewed its
request, since the case is closed.
* * *
SA legend Jimmy Parks, one of several
attorneys in the case, was interviewed by SAL Editor
RG Griffing on Tuesday about the lists, and Parks
confirmed there were many well known local figures on
them. The interview came during Parks' appearance on
KTSA's Chris Duel show.
Now
that the DA has acted, it will be interesting to see
what names are on the Chinaman's gambling lists,
which reportedly include judges, politicians and
other SA notables.
The
Lightning filed an open records request for those
documents, but the information was denied. (See
stories below.)
We
will now renew that request.
More to
follow.
-
Developing -
* *
*
(Previous
Stories Below - Archived In Reverse Order)
WHO WILL TESTIFY AT THE
GRAND JURY, IF THERE IS ONE?
|
SUSPECT LEE
|
PHIL HARDBERGER
|
JUDGE WOLFF
|
UNKNOWN
|
|
'Mobster'
Richard Lee To
SA Cops: 'I Have Powerful
Friends'
Organized Crime Alleged
SAL Political Snitch 5-2-2007
|
Many questions go unanswered, as the
probe of accused racketeer Richard Lee and at least 8
associates continues.
San Antonio detectives have forwarded
their findings to District Attorney Susan Reed, but
so far the case has NOT been reviewed by a Grand
Jury.
Complicating the matter is a list of
prominent SA citizens, and "powerful
friends" named by Lee as authorities searched
and seized materials from properties controlled by
him.
Among those names are Mayor Phil
Hardberger and County Judge Nelson Wolff.
IF the Grand Jury gets to evaluate the
charges, will the top political leaders of Bexar
County and San Antonio be called to testify?
What about other names on "The
List?"
The answer is unknown at this time, but
it appears no action is scheduled until after the
Mayoral election on May 12th.
* * *
"I don't have any involvement
with Richard Lee's gambling operation."
San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger has
been adamant about distancing himself from the
accused mobster, to the point that he has tossed the
ugly and embarrassing monkey onto political pal Judge
Nelson Wolff's back.
The question came up following an
Express-News story which quoted an SAPD cop:
"He (Lee)
mentioned Nelson Wolff and Phil Hardberger by
name," one officer said. "He said,
'I have powerful friends in the
community.'"
Ken Rodriguez, E-N Columnist
"I actually knew about him
(Richard Lee) through Nelson Wolff...I guess
Nelson knows him personally...I wish him (Lee)
the best," the Mayor said.-KTSA
Hardberger made the statements on his
local, weekly KTSA radio show.
Click for audio
clips, MP3 Player Required
Still, he admits that he
"suspected" Lee was involved in gambling.
"The
fact that a guy who is a gambler might be gambling is
not a great shock. However, that doesn't mean our
laws don't have to be followed," Hardberger
admitted in an Express-News article.
Lee
came to prominence when he finished in 6th place in a
Las Vegas poker tournament.
* * *
Wolff admits he
has played poker with Lee "two or three
times." Wolff also says he knew nothing about
Lee's alleged bookmaking operation.
Wolff
is known to play cards frequently at the Petroleum
club, and has attended at least one high-stakes game
at a location in the Dominion. He is rumored to have
lost more than $5,000 in that last game.
"It
surprised me, to tell you the truth," Wolff
said. "I do not bet sports. I do not play on the
Internet."
But, according
to E-N's Rodriguez:
"I had
to ask: If what police say about Lee is true, how
could you play poker with him and not know he's a
bookie?"
"I
don't know," Wolff said.
* * *
Since before late August of last year,
authorities have been investigating the racketeering
case.
San Antonio Police allege that Lee --
street named "The Chinaman" -- is involved
in organized crime, money laundering and bookmaking.
The case is currently "under
review" by the Bexar County District Attorney's
office, but no word of a presentation to the Grand
Jury.
* * *
What makes this story all the more
intriguing are the gambling lists and bank accounts
seized in the raid, which included three other
houses. More than $2.2M was taken from a number of
local banks.
The items getting the most attention are
players' lists and bank records.
As noted by Rodriguez: "Doctors,
lawyers, judges, cops — some of the (City's)
most prominent people, I'm told, are on The
List."
Ken
Rodriguez, E-N
Also
obtained as evidence are video and tape recordings,
computers and various papers taken in the raid.
And
lots and lots of names.
* * *
The City of San Antonio is fighting an
open records request by the Lightning, for the
bettors' lists found in the raid of Lee's house, and
three other homes.
The City cites the continuing
investigation as the reason for not releasing the
names.
