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Steven's absence from the Las Vegas high-stakes scene is not a mystery anymore.
"You better be ready for me on the felt in a couple of weeks"
Poker playing businessman from Wichita, Brandon Steven was a regular participant in the high-stakes tournaments and cash games up until recently, he played several big televised cash games, and even entered the €1,000,000 One Drop event in Monte-Carlo, where he became the bubble-boy.
He has been missing the action lately, but this apparently only applied to the public events and open cash games. As it turned out, Brandon was deeply involved in organizing an illegal high-stakes private game in cooperation with co-defendant Daven Flax.
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According to the Office of U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister, Steven was accused of organizing games and handling records that detailed gambling credits, and earnings. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and three years probation. Even though he was not fined, his attorney disclosed that he had already paid about $1.1 million to the U.S. Marshal’s Office.
When asked about his future plans, regarding poker, Brandon said: "I told my kids in 2010 that I would win a bracelet one day and even though I have mainly been playing cash games and not tournaments the last couple years, I plan on fulfilling my promise to them."
"I have taken this matter seriously and am accepting and grateful for the outcome given by the court, … and you better be ready for me on the felt in a couple of weeks," he added.
The Kansas resident has $3,196,690 in live tournament earnings, including his biggest score, a $648,000 prize, which he took down in 2016 by winning a $50,000 Super High Roller at Aria.