George Janssen poker career and legal troubles

The kidnapping of a nationally ranked poker champion raised eyebrows in the poker community and concerns among friends and relatives after a Bad Axe, Michigan, man disappeared for more than a month late in 2023. However, the plot thickened amid allegations of loan fraud and charges filed only recently.

While there are many blanks left and it is yet to be seen how the legal action will go, the story of George Janssen, a once-celebrated poker champion, who is now accused of serious allegations over a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme, is undoubtedly fascinating.

The poker champion disappeared late in 2023 and reappeared a month later

George Janssen poker career includes a range of appearances in high-profile tournaments, including the World Series of Poker Circuit and the Mid-States Poker Tour.

According to data from the Hendon Mob, the Bad Axe resident's best live cash win of $82,823 came from the $1,600 No Limit Hold'em - MSPT $1,600 (Event 20) during the Venetian DeepStack Extravaganza III in Las Vegas, Nevada, from September 8, 2023.

After this major win, Janssen participated in two other tournaments in 2023 and later that same year, disappeared. The Michigan poker player was missing for more than a month before he reappeared, claiming that he was abducted by a Mexican cartel.

According to Janssen, the motive of the cartel for his abduction was solely a financial one, as they had been extorting him for several years before allegedly taking him prisoner for more than a month.

However, the story took an even darker turn, similar to a thriller movie, considering that federal authorities were looking into Janssen's business and an investigation claimed he orchestrated a fraudulent scheme evaluated at nearly $4m.

George Janssen: a successful poker player with four WSOP rings

As noted, Janssen's biggest win from live poker tournaments, per the Hendon Mob, is $82,823. According to the same data source, the poker player has amassed live earnings of $440,763 from poker.

His place on the all-time money list for US-based poker players is 3,631st. On the other hand, Janssen's rank on the all-time money list for Michigan is 63, a position that reaffirms the poker champion as a recognizable player in the state.

On the other hand, the Bad Axe resident's profile on the World Series of Poker (WSOP) reveals that he has won a total of four rings and has 69 cashes. While the Michigan poker player doesn't have any WSOP bracelets won, at least for the moment, his total earnings from WSOP competitions are estimated at $167,961.

A breakdown of his total WSOP earnings reveals that Janssen has won $47,247 from eight WSOP cashes and some $120,714 from a total of 61 Circuit cashes. As noted, the professional poker player has four rings won from WSOP circuit tournaments, such as the $525 No Limit Hold'em online Main Event from November 2022.

Kidnapped for more than a month, Janssen broke from captivity and was found late in 2023

Despite his illustrious career, Janssen disappeared out of nowhere late in 2023. On November 13, he was reported missing by family and close friends.

One of the poker champion's friends, during questioning by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, claimed that he sounded troubled just days before his disappearance, local media outlets reported at the time. Allegedly, Janssen told his friend that he had been subjected to extortion for two years.

The testimony of the poker champion's friend revealed that Janssen was targeted by a Mexican cartel after a poker tournament in Detroit. The same witness remembered that the poker champion told him he was held at gunpoint by a masked man, likely representing the cartel, who demanded $2m. The witness report claims that Janssen was then given a cell phone by members of the cartel, who instructed him to check it and make regular payments based on instructions he would receive.

After the poker champion's disappearance, a friend found his car abandoned, while some $50 bills were seen scattered on the floor. From his disappearance in November, Janssen wasn't seen for more than a month.

Then, a mysterious handwritten letter that contained a cryptic message appeared on December 15, 2023. The letter was received by a family member who turned it in to law enforcement. In the letter, written by Janssen, there were names that didn't correspond to any family members or pets, but police uncovered the word "kidnap" was spelled out.

Days later, Janssen was found down a rural road with his hands zip-tied and a bloody face. The professional poker player waved down a car that was passing on the road on December 21, 2023, and he was taken to the hospital for treatment.

However, a report by ABC 12 News from the time suggested that law enforcement saw the situation as "suspicious." One police dispatcher said: "Suspicious situation. Guy's hands were zip-tied, says he was held captive for a month." Janssen claimed he was held captive, but the case captured the attention of the FBI, which launched an investigation into his claims about abduction.

Investigation into the poker champion's business results in fraud allegations

Even before the kidnapping, Michigan authorities were looking into Janssen's auto business, Bay Auto Brokers. A complaint was filed after a fraudulent loan which resulted in the scrutiny that was initiated in August 2023. Several months later, at the end of October of the same year, the state revoked Janssen's license to sell cars. The revocation was for a period of five years.

According to an affidavit complied by a special agent with the FBI, details of which were released in a report by mLIVE, Janssen was allegedly involved in a large-scale fraudulent scheme.

The federal agency identified that between June 2016 and October 2023, a total of 20 financial institutions have been subjected to fraud. The same affidavit alleges that Janssen, through his car dealership, obtained fraudulent loans from financial institutions. He allegedly even asked friends and family to take out loans on vehicles with already existing loans.

The affidavit estimates that the total loan amount was $3,934,141. On the other hand, the estimated loss as a result of the alleged fraudulent actions by Janssen is nearly $3.3m, the FBI documents claim.

Preliminary hearing on Janssen's case is set for the end of May

In mid-February this year, a criminal complaint was filed against the Michigan poker player after the FBI fraud investigation. The case against Janssen was filed with the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Signed by FBI's Special Agent, Nicholas Vanderploeg, the criminal complaint alleges Janssen engaged in Financial Institution Fraud between June 7, 2016, and October 30, 2023. "The defendant(s) ... knowingly executed a scheme or artifice to defraud to obtain money, funds or other property owned by or under the control of COPOCO Credit Union, DORT Credit Union, and others financial institutions by means of material false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344," reads the complaint against Janssen.

Bank fraud carries a significant punishment. If a person is found guilty of such a crime, they may be facing a fine of up to $1m, prison time of up to 30 years, or both. Still, it's important to note that charges are merely allegations before proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Late last month, prosecutors asked Judge Patricia T. Morris to extend the deadline for the filing of the indictment against Janssen. In addition, the prosecution asked for a preliminary hearing on the case to be rescheduled from March 20 to the end of May.

Judge Morris approved the two requests and set a preliminary hearing for Janssen's case for May 28. The prosecution was also permitted to file the indictment against the professional poker player by the same date.

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