Proving that addiction and desperation are phenomena not reserved for any particular sector of society, Lehigh University class president Greg Hogan was allegedly driven by a poker addiction to rob a bank. Greg Hogan, who also plays second-chair cello in the Bethlehem, PA, university's orchestra, is now facing felony charges of robbery, theft and receiving stolen property. According to Hogan's lawyer, John Waldron, the Lehigh student had been playing poker online for more than a year, during which time he developed a dependency on the game. Waldron said that the bank robbery was a last resort after Hogan lost $5,000 playing poker online.

According to authorities, Hogan entered the bank on Friday afternoon and passed one of the tellers a note stating that he wanted money and was armed with a gun. Incidentally, the gun threat, it seems, was an empty one, as Hogan was reportedly unarmed. Hogan made off with $2,871, according to police. He then slipped into a waiting vehicle, where two of his fraternity brothers had the motor running. The friends claim that they did not know they were driving a getaway car that day.

Hogan's lawyer is actively pushing the addiction argument, stressing that Hogan is an exceptional citizen who happened to encounter the misfortune of developing an addiction to online poker. Whether or not this argument will carry any weight for Hogan's case will be decided on January 31, the date set for Hogan's arraignment. In the meantime, Hogan's family has laid out the $100,000 bond set to free him until the arraignment. Hogan's status as a student at Lehigh University remains to be decided by the university's student judicial system. For the time being, Hogan has ceased attending classes, despite the fact that finals begin next week.

Source:  Poker777 Staff

Wednesday, 14 December 2005