Brent Wilkes, the former defense contractor who was convicted in 2007 of bribing then-Rep. Duke Cunningham, in March raked in $10,900 when he recently won a World Series of Poker tournament at a California casino.
Wilkes, a professed poker aficionado, used cards as a way one way to bribe Cunningham, letting the Congressman win at poker, as his nephew testified. He also hosted poker games for lawmakers at the Watergate and other hotels.
Now, out on bail pending an appeal of his 12-year sentence, Wilkes is touring the poker circuit. He calls himself “The Enigma,” because, he says, younger players are always baffled when they get taken by an old dude.
Watch Wilkes talk about his big win:
Wilkes’ appeal started in earnest this week, after a delay pending the Supreme Court’s decision on honest services wire fraud. That decision came last month, when the Supreme Court limited prosecutors’ ability to utilize the honest services statute to causes where they could prove a quid pro quo.
Cunningham is still serving an eight-year sentence for accepting $2.4 million in bribes from Wilkes and other defense contractors in exchange for shuttling contracts their way.
Check out TPMmuckraker’s archives for more than you even wanted to know about the Cunningham scandal.
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