Double WSOP bracelet winning pro Brent Carter is facing 5 years in prison after being charged with ‘conveying false information and hoaxes’ – having sent numerous suspicious packages containing various powders to the New York State Gaming Commission.
Carter harassing the NYSGC
The 72-year-old Las Vegas pro has apparently had a long-running resentment towards the Gaming Commission. It is dating back to 1976, according to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force that investigated the most recent incidents.
That related to him having his horse-racing license temporarily revoked, although the decision was later reversed. The criminal complaint states: “However, since that time, over the course of approximately 40 years, Carter has contacted employees of the NYSGC claiming that the NYSGC denied him a career in horse racing.”
Carter apparently started his recent harassment and hoax campaign in 2018, first by leaving voicemails for Gaming Commission officials.
One of those referenced the Mandalay Bay shooting massacre in 2017 that left 60 people dead and hundreds more injured when Stephen Paddock opened fire on music fans attending the Route 91 Harvest festival.
Macabre voice messages
The affidavit against Brent Carter claims that on October 5th, 2018, he left a message stating: “Well it looks like the shooter in Las Vegas missed you guys. As long as you’re not available, you should be made permanently not available.”
He allegedly followed that up with another voicemail message the next month. He said that Gaming Commission officials were “evil, dishonest people, just unprosecuted criminals.”
The message continued: “Why have innocent people killed when you could have the Office of Inspector General people eliminated from their dirty deeds.”
Carter is then alleged to have followed up the calls by sending four envelopes to the gaming commission. Each of them contained a different substance, or mixture of substances.
The first, sent in April 2019, was labelled ‘CRITICAL EVIDENCE’ and contained “birdseed, dirt, a paperclip, and hair” according to the FBI affidavit.
In June 2019 he is said to have sent an envelope filled with white powder, which later proved to be sugar, and another containing drywall. The first of these envelopes had Carter’s name and a Las Vegas return address.
Brent Carter, who used to be a professional harness racer, was questioned about these matters in October 2020, identifying the handwriting as his.
Just a prank?
He stated he sent them because “he wanted a hearing to clear up his horse racing suspension, that he has nightmares because he cannot find his horses, and that the NYSGC would not respond to Carter regarding his suspension.”
The poker pro also stated: “I think sometimes if you try to make a point by being funny, you can create more trouble,” adding: “I guess in my mind I didn’t think this out but when I sent stuff, the garbage or junk, whatever, I sent, I guess it was revenge or trying to slow down their thinking.”
When told his letters were considered hazardous until testing proved them otherwise, Carter responded by claiming the Gaming Commission, “have been hazardous materials to my life.”
Although warned to stop, Carter is alleged to have sent yet another envelope containing powder in January of this year. Upon being tested, it was shown to be talcum powder, but the authorities had finally had enough and arrested Carter.
Carter appeared last week in Albany federal court, where United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, ordered him released with conditions.
If convicted on the charges of conveying false information and hoaxes Carter could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison, with three years of supervised release, as well as a fine of up to $250,000.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, the case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashlyn Miranda and Richard Belliss.
Brent Carter’s Poker Career
Brent Carter’s poker career has been very impressive. He has picked up two WSOP gold bracelets, two WSOP Circuit rings, and a WCOOP title, and showing a Hendon Mob listing of more than $3million in live cashes.
His first bracelet came in the 1991 $1500 NLHE event. He followed it up by another in 1994 when he took down the $1500 Limit Omaha title.
Carter’s biggest single cash came in 1995 when he finished third behind Dan Harrington in the Main Event, pocketing $302,750. His bust out hand, to eventual runner-up Howard Goldfarb, was revisited just last year…
Carter’s WCOOP win came in 2008. He picked up the $320 PLO/Hi-Lo title and $88,383 under his online nickname ‘92848’ on PokerStars.
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