Sports Tout Adam Meyer Arrested – Tony George responds
By Tony George
Egomaniac and Sports Tout Scamster Adam Meyer was arrested Tuesday in Florida. I will copy the charges listed by ESPN in a recent story about the arrest, as well as the main issues he is allegedly involved in:
“ He faces felony charges of wire fraud, extortion, racketeering and brandishing a firearm, all stemming from his alleged involvement in a $25 million scam of an unnamed victim from Wisconsin.
If convicted, Meyer, 42, faces a minimum seven-year prison sentence, according to his attorney, Brian H. Bieber.”
The Article further claims:
"Meyer referred some of his tout-service customers to people whom he falsely claimed were agents of third-party offshore bookmakers in the business of accepting bets on sporting events. The purported third parties were actually associates of Meyer's and were working on his behalf."
"After Victim A reduced his gambling activity, Meyer falsely told Victim A that Meyer's life was being threatened by a bookie to whom Meyer owed a large gambling debt. Meyer also falsely told Victim A that the bookie believed that Meyer and Victim A were gambling partners and that the bookie was holding Victim A equally responsible for the debt."
"Meyer falsely told Victim A that a person named 'Kent Wong' was attempting to collect the debt. 'Kent Wong' was actually an alter ego created by Meyer."
"From approximately July 2009 through December 2011, Meyer, sometimes falsely identifying himself as 'Kent Wong,' frequently called Victim A to obtain payments toward the gambling debt. While adopting the 'Wong' persona, Meyer threatened Victim A's family would be harmed if Victim A did not make payments toward the debt."
"In or about early 2012, Victim A refused to send Meyer further funds. Meyer subsequently contacted Victim A and arranged a meeting under the false pretense that Meyer was going to repay a portion of the money that he had previously received from Victim A."
"On or about April 16, 2012, Meyer and one of his associates flew from Florida to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, for the meeting. During the meeting, Meyer's associate brandished a weapon and demanded that Victim A send Meyer more money to pay off a purported gambling debt. In response to that threat, Victim A agreed to provide $9.8 million to Meyer."
In total, the indictment alleges Meyer and his agents obtained more than $25 million from the unnamed victim.
It is ironic that this same Adam Meyer used clips from an old Video I did for TV in a national Ad he ran about his legitimacy and how he was the cream of the crop and the handicapper to the stars, and how guys like ME were scam artists, wannabees, knew nothing about gambling, and were loud mouthed touts selling pie in the sky with no basis or fact. REALLY? How do you like me now Adam? To add insult to injury upon his arrest he cried like a baby and claimed he was having a heart attack and the Feds had to take him to the hospital before they carted him off to jail. Imagine his reaction with chest pains with the FBI versus the reaction in the prison shower he will have!
I have spent 22 years in this business being legitimate, never ran a phone room or was involved in one, and always put my clients first, and never once called anyone via the phone and asked them for money. I never once in 22 years used my name and notoriety on national radio to bilk someone for money for my plays, and I could have made 100’s of thousands of dollars doing so, especially with a phone room.
Every time this marketplace gets some limelight and good press as gambling on sports is more mainstream than ever, and the national media like ESPN is more or less endorsing it by showing lines under every game on their ticker and graphics, as well as New jersey close to legalizing gambling which will open the floodgates at every casino in America in the next 3-5 years, something like this pops up. Another black eye for the Handicapping marketplace, however those who are scamming in this industry are in the minority these days, and they should take notice that the Feds are watching.
The old adage a few bad apples spoil the bunch is in play here. The Handicapping marketplace is expanding into national media on a daily basis, I am part of that, and the Adam Meyers of the world are few and far between. Apparently if convicted, and the evidence seems overwhelming, he will have many years in prison to think about his business model.
For the full article from ESPN: http://espn.go.com/chalk/story/_/id/12016471/adam-meyer-arrested-faces-court-date-friday