In recent developments, professional poker player Damien Leforbes has had his sentencing related to money laundering charges connected to Resorts World Las Vegas postponed to December 10. This decision came after a brief hearing on October 15, where U.S. District Judge Monica Ramirez Almadani opted to delay the proceedings by nearly two months, asking for more information from both parties regarding the conditions of Leforbes' potential probation.
Last week, Leforbes, who is former baseball player at UNLV, reached an agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for a plea that recommends probation, potentially allowing him to avoid prison time. In August 2024, he pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering and operating an illegal gambling business. It was revealed that over a 16-month period up to December 2023, he lost more than $10 million at Resorts World Las Vegas, as indicated in a 2025 complaint by Nevada regulators. Under the recommended guidelines stated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry Quinn, Leforbes would spend the initial four months of his sentence under home confinement. However, Judge Almadani requires more details before considering this probationary option.
Previously, in 2025, bookmaker Matt Bowyer, who has ties to Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, was sentenced to about 12 months in prison related to a similar investigation involving Resorts World. Bowyer, who served time at FCI Lompoc, had also faced charges of money laundering linked to gambling activities. Documents demonstrate he incurred around $7.9 million in losses while gambling at the casino, where he was provided luxurious accommodations and perks.
Bowyer's substantial gambling operation was noted to have serviced over 700 clients, managing vast sums of money. In contrast, the specifics of Leforbes' operation remain less clear, although he is believed to have wagered approximately $148 million, resulting in around $12 million in losses during an 11-month period. Like Bowyer, Leforbes received promotional offers and benefits from Resorts World, which regulatory filings suggest may have been aware of his illegal activities.
In a significant procedural move, Judge Almadani on October 1 allowed Leforbes to remit over $25,000 to the U.S. Treasury towards his federal tax obligations for 2025. During the October hearing, she directed that further documents regarding the enhancements due to Leforbes' role in illegal activities be filed by the end of November and ordered a report on proposed probation terms.
Governor Joe Lombardo recently appointed Leforbes' attorney, Richard Schonfeld, to the Nevada Gaming Commission, an appointment that has drawn attention due to its proximity to the ongoing investigations surrounding gambling operations. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has sanctioned Strip casinos, including a recent fine of $7.2 million against The Venetian, due to failures in their anti-money laundering practices related to Bowyer's case. As Leforbes awaits his next court date, his sentencing has now been deferred multiple times since January 2025.
