The ongoing fraud trial of World Series of Poker bracelet winner Cory Zeidman, 62, is reportedly moving towards a conclusion, according to court documents released this week.
Zeidman is a poker pro of two decades from Boca Raton, Florida. He has a total of $692,000 in career winnings, according to the database Hendon Mob.
However, he also stands accused of playing a major role in a nationwide fake insider betting syndicate. One that received more than $25 million over 16 years from victims who believed Zeidman’s offers of no-lose wagers.
The poker pro originally filed a not guilty plea in 2022. However, this week, Zeidman’s attorney filed for an adjournment on a scheduled court appearance. Reportedly, because a potential resolution for the case is in the works.
Amid ongoing discussions between Zeidman’s lawyer Sarita Keida and prosecutor Anthony Bagnuola, the next scheduled update on the case is now set for April 30.
The Accusations
Zeidman is facing federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
His alleged insider sports betting scheme ran from 2004 to 2020, according to the indictments.
During this time, Zeidman won a bracelet event at the 2012 World Series of Poker finals.
The fake betting business ran under several names, as a so-called phoenix organization that shuts down and renames to avoid detection for illicit activities.
These names included Gordon Howard Global and the Ray Gordon Group.
“As alleged, Zeidman preyed on individuals who were led to believe he had inside information that would lead them to easy money,” said Homeland Security Special Agent Ricky J. Patel, speaking after charges were first filed in 2022.
“In reality, he was selling nothing but lies and misinformation — bilking millions from victims along the way, leaving their lives in financial ruin and their bank accounts empty.”
Everything is a Lie
For his part, Zeidman has so far strenuously denied the charges.
“In the words of Nietzsche, ‘Everything the state says is a lie and everything it has it has stolen.’ They took all my money, and they seem upset that I won’t plead to things I haven’t done,” Zeidman said in 2022.
“I anxiously await my day in court.”
However, new legal developments from court documents show his position may have changed.
Judge Joanna Seybert of the United States District of Eastern Court has been presiding over the case so far. She called a status conference for March 6. However, Kedia requested an up to 60-day adjournment on that conference from Seybert.
The request said that a potential resolution for the case is being discussed. Barring some spectacular new evidence, that is most likely to mean a plea deal from Zeidman on, or before, April 30.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
