Crime in the world of poker and casinos is nothing new. Poker legend Doyle Brunson and his contemporaries faced robberies as they traveled the U.S. looking for high stakes games. Other players have also experienced thefts in recent years, including recent home game holdups in the U.S. and Canada.
While some players may be on the lookout for potential crime, most probably don’t expect a family member to steal some of their winnings. However, that was the scenario seven-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Men “The Master Nguyen” faced recently.
Men Nguyen after winning the $10,000 Seven Card Stud event at the World Series of Poker. (photo courtesy WSOP)
Details on the Case
According to VNE Express, the 70-year-old Vietnamese-American poker pro reported to Vietnamese police that his nephew Dinh Chi Vu, 41, stole $60,300 worth of valuables, including cash, Rolex watches, and other jewelry from him.
Nguyen said that his sister and nephews had been staying in his home in Vietnam while he was in the U.S. in May. When he returned to the home last week, Nguyen found his room unlocked and the items missing from his safe.
“Following an investigation, police identified Vu, who lived in the same house, as the prime suspect,” VNE Express reported. “Vu confessed to purchasing lock-picking tools to break into Men’s room, where he found the key to the safe and stole the contents.”
After dropping out of school at age 13, Nguyen began working to support his family in Vietnam. When the communists took over the country, he was one of many who fled – leaving on a boat with 87 other people. He eventually settled in Los Angeles in 1978 for a new life.
In 1984, Nguyen played his first poker tournament and became a U.S. citizen in 1986. He now has more than $11 million in lifetime tournament winnings.