Shawn Sheikhan, who shot to fame back in 2005 with a televised Main Event battle with Mike Matusow, has been sentenced to four years in prison for operating an illegal cannabis dispensary.
As we revealed last week, Iranian-born Shawn Sheikhan had begged the judge in his case to give him probation rather than a prison term, with Poker After Dark producer Mori Eskandani among those giving him glowing references.
However, Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo of the US District Court of Southern California ignored those pleas, though she handed down only half of the 8-year the sentence the prosecutors had been pursuing.
Sheikhan’s woes began in 2021 after police raided “Cannaland”, a wholesale supplier of marijuana and marijuana products. The business not only supplied unlicensed and illegal dispensaries, but also illegally dispensed marijuana to individual customers itself.
Shawn Sheikhan’s legendary feud with Mike Matusow
The police search found more than 3,000 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value in excess of $6 million, along with five firearms.
Despite having their goods seized, Sheikhan and business partner Sabrianna Williams “personally coordinated and facilitated the procurement of replacement firearms for the business’ armed security guards.” They also continued to operate their business as before.
Shawn Sheikhan and Williams eventually pleaded guilty in 2022 to various drug, firearm, and money laundering charges in federal court.
Sheiki’s charges could have seen him hit with as much as 40-years in prison and a $5 million fine. Sentencing pushed back several times until Friday’s final verdict.
Sheikhan will remain free until 8th January 2024, when he must surrender himself to begin his sentence, which he will not be appealing against.
Shawn Sheikhan’s Hendon Mob listing shows $1,565,145 in tournament earnings, with his 2005 deep run in the WSOP main Event accounting for $600k of that total.
It was during the latter stages of that event that his verbal battle with Mike “The Mouth” Matusow took place, both players warned and given penalties by Jack Effel.
Shawn Sheikhan’s most recent cash came in 2021, again at the WSOP, with a 9th spot worth $32,162 in the $10,000 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship.
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