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Poker players say police dealt them bad hand
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Related Topics: San Mateo County
San Mateo County (Map, News) - Amateur poker players present during Saturday’s bust by San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office deputies and state gambling-control agents say they were shocked to learn they were playing alongside undercover officers and baffled by the arrests of two of their friends.
Cutberto “Bert” Cardenas, 42, was arrested on suspicion of fraudulently obtaining money under false pretenses. Cardenas, who frequently held poker parties at his Eichler Heights home in unincorporated San Mateo, and Patricia “Trish” McCoy, 47, of Hillsborough, were also arrested on suspicion of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Lt. Marc Alcantara said.
McCoy is charged with regularly letting her 13-year-old son play poker. The group of players said the boy was an adept player. One of the charges against Cardenas stems from having his 13-year-old daughter in the house during games, though she did not gamble, Alcantara said.
The players group, which advertised on Meetup.com, typically required a $25 to $55 buy-in, said Alcantara and members of the group. An additional refreshment fee of $5 was collected as well.
On Monday, members of the group described it as a low-key circle of people, mostly professionals in their 30s and 40s, interested in meeting friends.
San Mateo resident Jason Moungey said about 20 “core members” of the group were about 30 minutes into their game when they heard a pounding at Cardenas’ door Saturday.
“Someone joked, ‘It’s probably the cops.’ It was something funny to say because that sort of thing doesn’t happen to people like us,” Moungey said.
About 10 officers stormed into the home with guns drawn, Moungey and other witnesses said. Cardenas and McCoy were taken out of the home and each player was interviewed and photographed.
“A lot of people were red in the face and scared,” Moungey said.
Investigators say they believe Cardenas was skimming money off the top of the buy-in fees, Alcantara said, who added that the $5 refreshment fee was also illegal.
Belmont resident Luke DeSantos, also at Saturday’s game, said the charges against Cardenas are difficult to believe.
“Bert is just an avid poker lover and started the group so he could play more. He barely ever wins,” DeSantos said.
Cardenas and McCoy are both out on bail and did not return calls for comment. Their arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 19.
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unreal said:
the law is the law and running a card room for profit is illegal, even if the profits were only $1000-2000k per month
2 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
So this is waht the police do. Instead of arresting real criminals like robbers, rapists and murders they use their resources for this? Wow, people spending their own money the way they want and charging $5 for refreshments. The politicans who make these laws need to be reminded why we have the second amendment.
1 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This is really dumb. The police must have better things to do then break up a friendly poker game that wasn't hurting anyone. It wasn't for big money, it sounds more social than anything. Tell the police to go after the murderers and leave friendly games alone.
36 agree | 34 disagree
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Wow said:
My tax dollars at work.
42 agree | 58 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Ok Concerned Poker Player whoever you are, Go ahead and testify against Bert. You are making it worse for him, I'm sure he appreciates that. You are no friend. I for one remember many times when Bert bought food etc. and I will testify to this in court. Way to step up.
74 agree | 56 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Smart professionals should know better - sorry. You want a warning huh, why? You think there are not worse abuses of power by police? This guy is a parent, well its his responsibility to know the risks always presume the worst and prepare. You know games get raided, be ready to accept the consequences then stash some money (not from the game) for a retainer. Good intentions and more serious crimes are no excuse. Police enforce they do not judge. I hope the players step up and help him cover his legal fees and accept their part in this. Dumbest group of smart people if you ask me.
61 agree | 43 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Serious? I was there plenty of times when there was food! Veggies, cheese/spread, and bread/crackers, even a stove full of Little Caesar's Pizzas.
79 agree | 41 disagree
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Concerned Poker Player said:
Bert had no intention of frauding anyone. But it was a well known fact the $5 was used to go towards the House Rent. It is in black and white in the website. Also Food was never given, and to factualize this, there was a Poll to see how the Members wanted to handle it. Money for Chips, Cards etc can not be charged to players. For Doobie Mcgee, to right out lie is a shame. Granted Bert got the shaft, but lets realize it was illegal and accept responsibility. No way was $40 a month spent on Cards and not omce was there food. We are going to have a big hole in the Poker Games for a while. Here is hopoing Bert gets fair treatment and things return to normal.
62 agree | 56 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Sounds like an example of a group of people who have set a good example of how to put together something friendly, fun, and safe - even if it is somewhat socially taboo. It doesn't appear to be a crime operation to me, nor an example of how to get away with committing any kind of crime. Seems like the concensus is that the people involved were good people and would have gladly changed their structure had someone tapped them on the shoulder and pointed them in the right direction. The whole thing is sad.
72 agree | 46 disagree
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Reality said:
If the $2,000/month from the drink fee did not result in any profit, and Mr. Cardenas can prove (receipts, credit cards statements, etc.) that all the money taken in went toward drinks and food, then neither he nor his friends have anything to be concerned about. The playing cards, chips, computers, tables, rent, utilities, cannot be claimed against the funds taken in from the fees. Any and all mandatory fees must be thrown into the pot so that all participating players for the game have a chance to win it. Any money not thrown into the prize pool must be used for something which goes back to all the players (drink/food) and accounted for by the host using receipts or other some other form of documentation. Yes there are crooks out there robbing people and cooking meth. And when they get busted they make statements like "There are people out their raping and murdering folks...Why are you hassling us??" I hate certain laws too, but i know there are consequences for breaking them.
99 agree | 46 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Guess what Reality, My guess is that not even a quarter of the comments that have been posted are freinds of Bert. just concerned citizens po'd about where their tax dollars are going. Someone has already explained where the majority of money went. Bert was not profiting off of this and he should have been told to shut down or face charges. The fact the police used him and many thousands of dollars in man power while real crooks are out there cooking meth and robbing people is what really makes the public angry.
49 agree | 46 disagree
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Reality said:
People should be able to host the ocassional home game. The government got involved in this case because from what I have read, the house that got raided existed almost exclusively to host poker games 5 days a week. Anyone entering this house to gamble was required to pay $5 for water/soda, but not food. The Meetup site advertised each game and seems to be open to the public. What is the difference between this situation and a licensed card room/casino, other than the lack of a license? Poker is not illegal. Running an unlicensed card room/casino is. If this one was allowed to continue operating, who knows how many more would have begun popping up all over the place, maybe with higher stakes. As the stakes would increase, so would the risk of violence and other crimes associated with underground gambling. If Mr. Cardenas is really your friend, stop slamming the DA/cops/Judges. I'm quite sure they can read and don't like what they're reading. Is it wise to tick them off?
57 agree | 50 disagree
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LemmeGuess said:
Sounds like a friedly low stakes poker game and more of a social club. Let's see cops played undercover to a month or so... Lemme Guess: They lost tisk tisk- sore losers
78 agree | 57 disagree
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Concern about our government said:
This is horrendous! This is an activity agreed upon by all for a neglible amount of money. Now the government comes in and endangers a family by threatening to take away their kid. What the hell is going on with the government?!!
45 agree | 48 disagree
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Allan said:
I played at Bert's game about 6 times during the past 6 months. It was an opportunity to sharpen my poker skills with fellow poker-enthusiasts, who play a stronger, more technical game than most on-line players. It also is poker at a much lower cost than going to Garden City or up to Reno (only $60 for a full evening tournament). And finally, I played with my 21-year old son, and it was an opportunity to share an evening with him. I will miss this game.
95 agree | 49 disagree
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Doobey Magee said:
In Response to poster named Reality, you are incorrect sir. On the most active month the collection hit 2000. And in the rare occassions that happend he would buy more drinks, more food. we often had sandwhich platters, pizza, and sushi availiable. He is our friend and had/has no intention on making profit. The 5 dollar fee was put to a vote and we agreed on it. He spent approx. 400 a month on cards.
53 agree | 50 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Pokergate! - What will the DA charge them with? How much money will defendants be out in defending against this gross act of governmental harrassment, misallocation of public resources, public humiliation, and child traumatization? I hope some civil liberty lawyers are licking their chops about this because this looks like "authority gone wild"!
45 agree | 51 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Reality, you are absolutely right now that you mention it but wouldn't a warning be sufficient instead of letting this guy hang himself and using thousands and thousands of tax dollars to do a 3 month investigation? Not to mention taking a 13 yo girl from her home for this?? Don't you think think this was major overkill??
53 agree | 45 disagree
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Curious? said:
What's the harm of a little friendly poker game between adults? Like Bingo at the church. gonna bust them? They might play for $5 buck refreshments too!
76 agree | 51 disagree
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Reality said:
From reading all the newsreleases and reviewing the meetup site, i calculated that the host of the card room was taking in via the $5 drink fee approximately $2,000 per month after expenses. If it were allowed then others (me included) would want to start a card room too. The police know this and want to make an example of this highly publicized case. If you run a home poker game, do it without a mandatory drink fee. If the players don't want to kick in, find some new friends to play with.
58 agree | 52 disagree
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scout said:
This is a total waste of tax payer money, I suspect. Put these officers in black and whites, have them drive to crime areas, leave their cars, and do short foot patrols. Don't even try to raise taxes, as you better start DECREASING taxes with the above type of police work. Just crap.
37 agree | 48 disagree
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Q-9 Off said:
Doesn't it sound reasonable that the Sherrifs Dept. should have sent a warning letter first? Giving these good folks a chance to change the way their game was ran should have been the way to go. A letter just sounds much more cheaper (and civilized) than a raid on 20 upstanding citizens. Now where are these poor people gonna play?
60 agree | 36 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Better tell my kid to close her lemonade stand. Oh wait, we're in Santa Clara County...the police are probably too busy to fuss with her.
73 agree | 46 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Phew. Now I feel safer knowing these thugs have been brought to justice! Game's over crooks! You know better!
44 agree | 54 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
barely ever wins is important because the police made it seem like Bert is running this scam to fill his pockets
65 agree | 185 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
And who knew a 13 yo couldn't play a low stakes game like these?? This whole situation should have gotten a warning like Doobey said.
48 agree | 61 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
If he makes no money, how is he arrested. Stupid ass bay area.
73 agree | 46 disagree
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Doobey Magee said:
Well, thats not all as accurate as it could be. First, the 5 dollar drink fee wasn't started by Bert. He put a vote on the website and a group decision was made. Second He losses money running those games for us. Buying decks, replacing chips. Our group has grown quite fond of playing with the $5 plastic decks which we use maybe 2 or 3 times. This is a victimless crime that noone knew we were committing, if a singular officer would have came up before the investigation and said "the drink fee is illegal" we would have brought our own drinks. Instead they run a 3 month sting operation. It is quite sad. Guess they just needed a couple of new tables for the sherriff's game.
231 agree | 55 disagree
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