According to a report from Syracuse.com, poker professional Al Krux and his son, Adam, were arrested on Wednesday and charged with felony marijuana possession after a raid on their homes and vehicles by authorities.
Acting on tips provided to them by neighbors reporting “suspicious activity,” DeWitt, NY, law enforcement officials, with the assistance of several other New York law enforcement agencies, obtained search warrants on Tuesday for both Krux’s homes, the elder Krux home in Manlius and the junior Krux home in DeWitt. The search warrants were for not only the homes but also for three vehicles owned by the men. In the execution of these warrants, a large quantity of marijuana was discovered.
Syracuse.com reports that Al Krux was stopped in his car and, after a search, 25 pounds of marijuana were found in the vehicle. When Adam Krux’s vehicle was stopped and searched, fifteen pounds of cannabis were found in the car. Further search warrants of Adam’s home turned up 90 marijuana plants, other drugs and $5000 in cash. All totaled, the estimated street value of the drugs was estimated at around $200,000.
Following their arrest, both Krux men were taken into custody and charged with first degree criminal possession of marijuana. Adam Krux had a second charge added on his docket, criminal possession of a controlled substance (believed to be heroin), which is a misdemeanor under New York law. The two men were arraigned on Wednesday at the DeWitt Town Court and ordered to be held at the Onondaga County Justice Center with bail set at $20,000 each. At this time, it is unknown whether either man has posted the bond.
According to a report from CNYCentral.com, the investigation into the alleged crime has been ongoing for the past month. The Chief of Police of DeWitt, Eugene Conway, commented to CNYCentral.com that there had been an extreme amount of effort in this investigation and it is apparent that the authorities went to great lengths to ensure they were sure of the evidence before acting to arrest the Krux men.
The elder Krux, 68 years old, has had an illustrious career in poker. His first cash in a poker tournament dates back to 1981, when he finished in fourth place in a $1500 No Limit Hold’em event at the World Series of Poker. Nine years later, Krux would make the final table of the $10,000 Championship Event, finishing in sixth place to eventual champion Mansour Matloubi.
1n 1994, Krux would once again make the final table of the WSOP Championship Event, this time improving to finish in fifth place behind eventual champion Russ Hamilton. Krux won his only WSOP bracelet in 1996, winning the $1500 Pot Limit Hold’em championship for a payday of $156,375. What Al Krux is best remembered for, however, is his third ever finish at the WSOP Championship Event final table in 2004, when he finished in sixth place (for a $800,000 payday) in the event won by Greg Raymer.
All totaled, Krux has made thirteen cashes at the WSOP, two cashes on the World Poker Tour and won three events, including his WSOP bracelet victory. His last tournament cash came back in September, when Al finished in 21st place at the Seniors Event during the Borgata Poker Open. His career earnings total over $1.4 million.
Although he hasn’t been convicted of anything, Al Krux now is in the lexicon of other poker professionals who have run afoul of the law regarding drugs. In September, poker pro David Saab pled guilty to drug smuggling charges in Australia for attempting to bring in 14.6 kilos of cocaine into the country. In late 2004, Mike Matusow served a six month jail sentence for allegedly selling cocaine to an undercover police officer.
Legalize it.