Poker Player with Criminal Past Faces New Scam Allegations Across the U.S.
Lenard Adams, known as “Lucky” in the poker community and dubbed the “Sweetheart Swindler” by law enforcement, is once again facing accusations of scamming players from Las Vegas to Florida.
Adams, who has a violent criminal history, was charged in Indiana in 2017 with crimes including rape, fraud, intimidation, kidnapping, and theft, according to CBS Chicago. Investigators alleged that he pretended to be a neurosurgeon collecting donations for charity, scamming women out of nearly $70,000 in cash and jewelry. While most charges were later dropped, Adams was sentenced in 2019 to four consecutive 18-month sentences, three years in a work-release program, and ordered to pay $14,127 in restitution to three victims, along with writing apology letters.
Controversial Poker Career
Despite his criminal history, Adams appeared on Hustler Casino Live in October 2021, playing against poker stars like Phil Ivey and Garrett Adelstein. However, after his past became widely known, he was banned from the show.
South Florida Scam Allegations
Since his live stream appearance, Adams has faced multiple claims of scamming poker players. In January 2023, a player referred to as “Kevin” told PokerNews he was defrauded by Adams at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Kevin recounted meeting Adams, who promised to stake him in a private game if Kevin participated in a “massive flip.” Adams allegedly showed a fake money order claiming $2 million in credit at the casino to gain Kevin’s trust. However, after Kevin paid Adams, the promised private game never materialized, and Adams began pressuring him for more money.
“I left the casino out most of my poker bankroll,” Kevin said. “It should have been obvious it was a scam, but seeing him on live streams made me believe he was legit.”
The financial loss led Kevin to quit poker entirely. “I’m a college student with a great job lined up—I don’t need this in my life anymore,” he shared, explaining that he spoke out to prevent others from being scammed.
Similar Incident in Las Vegas
In May 2023, a poker player named “dcdan” shared a nearly identical experience on the Poker Fraud Alert forum. He claimed Adams scammed him out of $7,000 at ARIA in Las Vegas by promising to stake him in a high-stakes private game. Instead, Adams borrowed money in the casino pits and disappeared.
“He asked me for 7k, and I obliged. It all happened so quickly. Soon after, he ran off, blocked my number, and vanished,” wrote “dcdan.”
Poker Career and Criminal Past
Adams has publicly claimed to be a professional poker player with $155,055 in Hendon Mob earnings. His career highlights include a fourth-place finish at the 2023 Wynn Summer Classic for $30,534 and two wins at the 2024 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, earning $16,770 and $9,610.
While Adams has achieved notable success in poker, his alleged scams and criminal past overshadow his accomplishments, leaving a trail of victims and questions about trust within the poker community.
These accusations have sparked widespread discussions among players, with many urging others to remain vigilant and cautious when dealing with unfamiliar figures in the poker world.
Source: https://www.pokernews.com/news/2025/01/lenard-adams-scamming-poker-players-47746.htm
Lenard Adams, known as “Lucky” in the poker community and dubbed the “Sweetheart Swindler” by law enforcement, is once again facing accusations of scamming players from Las Vegas to Florida.
Adams, who has a violent criminal history, was charged in Indiana in 2017 with crimes including rape, fraud, intimidation, kidnapping, and theft, according to CBS Chicago. Investigators alleged that he pretended to be a neurosurgeon collecting donations for charity, scamming women out of nearly $70,000 in cash and jewelry. While most charges were later dropped, Adams was sentenced in 2019 to four consecutive 18-month sentences, three years in a work-release program, and ordered to pay $14,127 in restitution to three victims, along with writing apology letters.
Controversial Poker Career
Despite his criminal history, Adams appeared on Hustler Casino Live in October 2021, playing against poker stars like Phil Ivey and Garrett Adelstein. However, after his past became widely known, he was banned from the show.
South Florida Scam Allegations
Since his live stream appearance, Adams has faced multiple claims of scamming poker players. In January 2023, a player referred to as “Kevin” told PokerNews he was defrauded by Adams at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Kevin recounted meeting Adams, who promised to stake him in a private game if Kevin participated in a “massive flip.” Adams allegedly showed a fake money order claiming $2 million in credit at the casino to gain Kevin’s trust. However, after Kevin paid Adams, the promised private game never materialized, and Adams began pressuring him for more money.
“I left the casino out most of my poker bankroll,” Kevin said. “It should have been obvious it was a scam, but seeing him on live streams made me believe he was legit.”
The financial loss led Kevin to quit poker entirely. “I’m a college student with a great job lined up—I don’t need this in my life anymore,” he shared, explaining that he spoke out to prevent others from being scammed.
Similar Incident in Las Vegas
In May 2023, a poker player named “dcdan” shared a nearly identical experience on the Poker Fraud Alert forum. He claimed Adams scammed him out of $7,000 at ARIA in Las Vegas by promising to stake him in a high-stakes private game. Instead, Adams borrowed money in the casino pits and disappeared.
“He asked me for 7k, and I obliged. It all happened so quickly. Soon after, he ran off, blocked my number, and vanished,” wrote “dcdan.”
Poker Career and Criminal Past
Adams has publicly claimed to be a professional poker player with $155,055 in Hendon Mob earnings. His career highlights include a fourth-place finish at the 2023 Wynn Summer Classic for $30,534 and two wins at the 2024 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, earning $16,770 and $9,610.
While Adams has achieved notable success in poker, his alleged scams and criminal past overshadow his accomplishments, leaving a trail of victims and questions about trust within the poker community.
These accusations have sparked widespread discussions among players, with many urging others to remain vigilant and cautious when dealing with unfamiliar figures in the poker world.
Source: https://www.pokernews.com/news/2025/01/lenard-adams-scamming-poker-players-47746.htm
