Alleged LA poker cheat arrested in connection with Jontay Porter stat-fixing scheme

Posted on: January 13, 2025 16:22 PST

Las Vegas gambler and alleged private poker game cheater Shane Hennen has been arrested in Las Vegas as part of the ongoing investigation into the stat-fixing scheme involving now-banned NBA player Jontay Porter.

Hennen, 39, was arrested at Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport on Sunday as he attempted to board a flight to Colombia. According to a detention letter issued by the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, which is leading the ongoing investigation in the Porter matter, Hennen had purchased a one-way ticket in a presumed attempt to flee from the pending arrest. The above security image, taken at Atlantic City's Resorts Casino Hotel in March 2024, shows some of the alleged conspirators.

Hennen is the fifth gambling figure arrested to date in the stat-fixing scheme involving Porter, the former Toronto Raptors guard. Porter admitted to faking the seriousness of an injury in two early 2024 games, shaving his stats after tipping off the gamblers beforehand. Porter owed the gamblers a considerable sum from other gambling debts and has been banned from the NBA for life. Two of the other four gamblers previously arrested in the scandal have already pled guilty to charges as well.

Hennen among those accused of cheating LA high-stakes games

Hennen is a shadowy figure of sorts in the poker world, with only a few recorded tournament scores but being a somewhat well-known participant in the high-stakes cash game scene. He was among several players accused by the well-known Hustler Casino Live! streamed-game regular 'Wes Side' Wesley Fei, 'Blank Check' Ben Lee, Nik 'Airball' Arcot and others of being part of a cheating ring that stole millions of dollars out of two regularly occurring private games running in greater Los Angeles a couple of years ago.

Hennen was accused of cheating in some of the games being held at private residences, along with Ye 'Tony Mars' Shen, Long Phi 'Bruce' Pham, Arnaud Mattern and others. Fei even posted a photo to Twitter/X purporting to show Hennen, who went by 'Colin' in the games. Fei also posted links to some of Hennen's previous criminal history.

Of some interest is that one of the four other gamblers previously arrested as part of the Porter stat-shaving scheme was Pham, also while appearing to be fleeing the country. Last June, Pham was apprehended at JFK International in New York while also attempting to board an international flight on a one-way ticket. Pham was attempting to fly to Australia — purportedly to play in a poker tournament — though the only poker tourney of note in Australia would have had registration close before he could arrive to play. Pham later pled guilty, rendering the hole-laden alibi moot.

As for Hennen, he is scheduled to make an initial court appearance today. At some point, assuming the case moves forward, he is likely to be extradited to New York.

^{Featured image courtesy of USAO SDNY}