Last year, Darren Woods shocked the gambling world when he was arrested for colluding on online poker sites. Earlier this week, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison and is now speaking out about his supposedly unfair punishment. Woods is well-known in the poker market, as a WSOP bracelet winner. His total tournament poker winnings exceed $400 000, and he has made millions online.
With a thriving poker career, Woods had become successful in a competitive market – but, he threw it all away when he started colluding in online poker games. During the trial in October 2014, Judge Paul Watson told Woods: "You are an intelligent, able, and even gifted young man, but you turned your talents towards defrauding online gambling companies and cheating other players of online poker."
His crimes took place between 2007 and 2012, when the 29-year-old poker player registered under several different names are online poker rooms and payment processing operators. He was able to cheat against other players at the site while unfairly taking advantage of promotions and bonuses by the sites and their operators.
In addition to being sentenced to over a year in prison, Woods will also have to pay £1 million to the victims of his crimes. He will also have to pay £283 000 to the online poker company with which he previously gambled. Now, Woods is speaking out against his punishment.
He states that he is the victim of the crime, rather than the criminal – as his mother was interviewed under duress and his own reputation has been damaged by the trial and allegations. It is unlikely that his recent statements will get him out of jail or reduce his sentence; however, we respect his determination.
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