Federal agents are still investigating a group that they allege is running a sophisticated fraud scheme in illegal poker games, involving sophisticated techniques such as collusion and the use of electronic devices to gain an unfair advantage over other players.
in October 2025, the federal government indicted more than twenty people. Curtis “Curt” Meeks, a former boxer from Texas, was one of those arrested.
They are accused of using high-tech tools and inside help to embezzle millions of dollars from people who participated in illegal poker games.
According to court documents, Meeks was recently caught breaking house arrest rules while awaiting trial.
The judge ordered Meeks to be re-arrested
Meeks must remain in jail pending trial, Judge Clay H. Kaminsky, the judge hearing his case, ruled last week.
The judge noted that the 42-year-old had broken the law so many times that he should not have been released.
Authorities point out that Meeks has been a habitual violator of the rules, which is why on 27 February the pre-trial services asked the court to revoke his bail.
His release officers said he did not follow their instructions and did not fully comply with the monitoring rules.
One of the concerns was a request to check the gun safe in his house. Official court documents show that Meeks refused to allow the police to check it.
The judge also noted that Meeks had previously been warned by the court, but continued to violate the rules imposed on him.
Meeks has “repeatedly violated” the rules of house arrest, and Judge Kaminsky wrote that he does not expect him to comply in the future.
The court therefore ordered him to remain in jail until the hearing.
Federal case against suspected poker fraud network
Police are accusing Meeks of being part of a larger investigation into a fraud scheme allegedly carried out in illegal poker games across the US.
According to federal authorities, a group of people collaborated to gain an unfair advantage over other players.
The group used hacker-designed card shufflers, chip tray analysers and special contact glasses capable of reading sensitive data during games.
According to the police, Meeks helped others in the scheme to obtain some of this equipment.
Two other men from Pennsylvania and Kentucky have also been charged with providing the group with the technology that helped the fraud.
Their names are Shane “Sugar” Hennen and Robert “Black Rob” Stroud.
According to investigators, the scheme spanned several years and involved well-known athletes.
Court documents point to links to well-known players such as NBA coaches Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones.
Authorities have charged Meeks with federal crimes, including conspiracy to commit electronic communications theft and money laundering.
Reports indicate that at least 12 suspects in the case are expected to accept plea agreements. The other suspects will stand trial in November.
Meeks says arrest was unnecessary
Before the judge revoked Meeks' bail, he made an urgent plea to the court not to send him back to prison.
He said detention was unnecessary because he was acting in his own name.
Meeks wrote in the document that he had never missed a court hearing and was probably notgs.
He also explained that he is responsible for real businesses and must be able to adapt to their needs.
In addition to working in real estate, Meeks is a certified boxing manager. He said that it would be difficult for him to do his job if he had to deal with strict controls, including GPS tracking.
The court did not believe these claims because he had broken the rules in the past and was therefore unlikely to follow them again.
Appearances in poker tournaments and criminal history
Meeks has played in a number of high-stakes poker games over the past few years. in 2024, he played in the $50,000 High Roller at the World Series of Poker.
Although he didn't win any money, he accumulated a large stack of chips during the tournament and at one point even eliminated top pro Jason Koon.
Sources say that Meeks celebrated loudly during the tournament when he kicked players out and told the table that he was going to send everyone home.
He has also appeared on popular live poker shows such as “Champions Poker Live” and “Bally Poker Live”.
The poker player-watching website Highroll Poker claims that he lost more than $270,000 in seven televised cash game sessions.
Prosecutors cited Meeks' extensive criminal record in court documents, but none of those offences were poker-related.
in 2010, he was found guilty of failing to stop and render aid after a hit-and-run accident in 2008. The first charge in that case was reckless homicide.
Prosecutors say that more recently, in 2023, he was charged with grievous bodily harm with a deadly weapon and possession of a weapon with a criminal record.
In addition, last month he lost an appeal against a two-year prison sentence he received for forgery in the state.
