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Poker ace dealt tax evasion charge after cashing in megawinnings

The Investigative Committee explained that the criminal case could be overturned if Russia’s budgetary losses were compensated

© AP Photo/Julie Jacobson

MOSCOW, March 17. /TASS/. A criminal case has been initiated against a resident of the Russian city of Cheboksary (the Republic of Chuvashia) over tax evasion after he won millions of dollars at international poker tournaments, the press service of the Russian Investigative Committee said in a statement on Friday.

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"The Investigative Committee’s Chuvashia branch has launched a criminal case against a 36-year-old resident of the city of Cheboksary, who has no permanent employment. He is suspected of a major tax evasion," the statement reads. This crime can be punishable by up to three years imprisonment.

According to investigators, the suspect had evaded taxes in 2011-2013, failing to pay around four million rubles (roughly $69,000) as he had hidden incomes of over 30 mln rubles (roughly $502,000). He received the money as winnings at international poker tournaments in the United States (the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas), Germany (Berlin), Denmark (Copenhagen) and France (Deauville).

The Investigative Committee explained that the criminal case could be overturned if Russia’s budgetary losses were compensated.

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