22 Robbed at Private Poker Game In Oklahoma

Published on Wednesday, October 07, 2009 12:01:00 PM

Police are searching for two men in connection with last week's robbery of 22 people during what police described as a "private poker party" in northwest Oklahoma City. The robbers made off with more than $12,000.

A 911 caller reported the robbery about 11:25 p.m. Wednesday at a strip mall suite in the 900 block of NW 92, according to an Oklahoma City police report released Monday. Jerry Gilchrist, 31, of Midwest City, who told officers he rents the suite for poker parties, said a gunman forced his way inside as Gilchrist opened the locked door to let a player leave.

The gunman and another man who followed him in the door forced the victims to the floor and took their wallets and cell phones, the report states. Victims reported losing anywhere from $30 to $5,000 in cash. Some of the cell phones were later found near NW 63 and Robinson Avenue, the report states. No injuries were reported.

Scott Rowland, first assistant district attorney for Oklahoma County, said if no third party was involved in the poker party to make a profit from gambling, the players would only be facing misdemeanor charges if that could be proven. But prosecutors would rather pursue the felony armed robbery complaints, Rowland said.

"If the DA could prove illegal gambling then you would end up with uncooperative victims in a much more serious case of armed robbery," Rowland said.

The robbers sped away in a green sport utility vehicle, according to the report.

The robber with the gun was described as a white man about 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing about 220 pounds with a green or blue jacket and a scarf over his mouth and nose.

No description of the other robber was available.

Vice unit police officers went to the scene and confiscated poker chips and playing cards, the report states.

Police Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow said officers presented an investigative report to Oklahoma County prosecutors.

The victims were 20 men and two women, ranging in age from 23 to 62, according to the report. All were from the Oklahoma City area.

Two of the victims listed their occupations as professional poker players.

Robbery victims contacted by telephone said they did not want to comment. One man said he had been told by his attorney not to talk about the robbery.

Source: News OK