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California Poker Advocate Convicted Of Voter Fraud

Sen. Rod Wright Could Face More Than 8 Years In Prison

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One of the men who had spearheaded past efforts for online poker in the state of California has been convicted of perjury and voter fraud.

On Tuesday, a jury found California Sen. Roderick D. Wright guilty, the Los Angeles Times reported. He could face more than eight years in prison for the crimes.

Has was indicted in September 2010 and has been free on $45,000 bail.

The 61-year-old is a Democrat.

According to the report, the jury found that Wright lied about his address on documents in 2007 and 2008. Some of the documents were for his candidacy.

Wright maintained that he thought he had followed the law when securing a legal residence in the district he wanted to represent. Neither the state nor the jury bought his explanation.

He reportedly had few personal items at the second home in Inglewood.

As for Calfornia online poker, Wright’s conviction is unlikely to matter. The issue has many supporters in the Golden State, including some of his colleagues.

Since 2014 is an election year, online poker won’t likely be legalized until 2015, at the earliest. It’s very difficult to get a consensus among the tribal groups.

Right now, just Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware have online poker.