The Mike Postle alleged cheating scandal just took an unexpected turn. Mac VerStandig, the plaintiffs’ attorney, admits there is no evidence Stones Gambling Hall or its tournament director, Justin Kuraitis, were involved in any cheating that may or may not have occurred during any livestreams.
VerStandig represented 88 plaintiffs in a combined $30-million lawsuit against Postle, Kuraitis, and the casino, but he was unable to receive the outcome from the civil suit his clients desired. Many of his clients, in fact, declined to agree to a minor settlement with the casino.
The Sacramento Bee claims to have spoken to a source close to the case who told them the settlement was a “nominal amount.” Todd Witteles (aka “Dan Druff”) recently disclosed on Poker Fraud Alert Radio he heard the same from his source connected to the case.
Kuraitis, who oversaw and often commented on the Stones Live streams Postle is alleged to have cheated on, also released a public statement about the case for the first time. He claims to have remained silent due to his lawyer’s request.
Postle also gave a brief statement to the Sacramento Bee, saying in a four-paragraph text that he’s going to soon share his side of the story.
“As much as I’d like to say, all I can really say right now is that I have my side of this entire fiasco to tell,” Postle wrote in a text message to the Bee. “It won’t just shock the poker and gambling industries, but the entire world.
“This all goes way beyond just my innocence, but includes an entire incredible 17+ year story along with it, and what’s happened since the allegations. In fact, it’s such a mind-blowing story, that it’s being told to Dave Broome at 25/7 Productions, who will be producing a wild documentary for the world to see on it!
“I’ve been waiting for many, many months on this and I’m anxious for it to finally come out. So to all the detractors and accusers who have asked, ‘Why hasn’t he spoken or provided his evidence of innocence and explanations?’
“Well guess what? … Now you know.”
Total Exoneration?
In September 2019, Postle was accused by Veronica Brill of cheating during Stones Live streams. The poker community then began investigating the claims. Joey Ingram and others shared countless hours of footage that, they claim, include a plethora of suspicious hands.
Postle is alleged to have used some sort of device to decipher his opponents’ hole cards. Kuraitis was accused by many of having been in on the alleged scheme. But after nearly a year of investigating the case, the plaintiffs’ attorney doesn’t believe Kuraitis or the casino he worked for were involved.
“After reviewing evidence with the cooperation of Stones, my co-counsel and I have found no evidence supporting the Plaintiffs’ claims against Stones, Stones Live Poker, or Justin Kuraitis,” VerStandig said in a public statement. “My co-counsel and I have found no forensic evidence that there was cheating at Stones or that Stones, Mr. Kuraitis, the Stones Live team, or any dealers were involved in any cheating scheme. Based on our investigation, we are satisfied that Stones and Mr. Kuraitis were not involved in any cheating that may have occurred.”
VerStandig, however, didn’t completely absolve Postle. Although the case hasn’t been proven in a civil trial, many in the poker community still believe in his guilt, including the whistleblower, Veronica Brill.
I didn't sign the settlement
I am free to continue to tell the truth
— Veronica Brill (@Angry_Polak) September 15, 2020
Shaun Deeb offered up on Twitter $100,000 to Postle “for outing his fellow conspirators.”
Stones Tournament Director Finally Speaks
Now that the civil case has reached its conclusion, Justin Kuraitis is finally opening up to share his side. The Stones poker room tournament director went off on Ingram and others who he claims were “peddling false statistics” and “cherry-picking hands.”
“On the advice of counsel, I have remained silent and not commented on the parade of false accusations that have been leveled against me,” Kuraitis said in a public statement. “Now that this is over, I want to move on and not spend the next 5 years in the muck. There are some things I need to say before I move on, because the process has been so disheartening and upsetting.”
Kuraitis blasted the “wanna-be ‘celebrity’ commentators” on social media who accused him of participating in the alleged cheating scandal.
“The allegations against me were false,” Kuraitis continued. “However, the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Gambling Control still conducted an investigation with which I completely and voluntarily cooperated. Because of the investigation and then civil litigation, I was counseled to remain silent and let the process play out without making public comment.”
Kuraitis then accused Ingram of using the scandal to increase his YouTube popularity. He said he watched Ingram’s videos and found them entertaining, but claimed the popular poker podcaster was using cherry-picked hands to fit his own narrative that Postle is a cheater.
“Suddenly facts ceased to be important anymore and it all became about who could come up with the most outlandish story,” the Stones tournament director wrote.
Kuraitis also mentioned Matt Berkey, Doug Polk, and Daniel Negreanu among those who supposedly peddled false claims about him and Postle.
“The propaganda machine that these guys created was prolific, but it was all a case of confirmation bias,” he says.
Kuraitis admits that the videos he watched on the story even had him briefly questioning if Postle cheated. He claims his uncertainty changed after reading the research conducted by Rounder Life, a known pro-Postle website that Postle himself promoted on Stones Live streams and even previously worked for.
