Convicted poker game robber gets 10 years in prison

CLEVELAND - A man found guilty of robbing a high stakes poker game was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in stealing about $11,000 from the players.

Stanley Smith was given 10 years in jail after a jury found him guilty on all 20 counts of robbery stemming from a poker game holdup in October 2009. He had previously turned down a plea deal that would have given him significantly less time.

Prosecutors said Smith worked with a group to rob the game. Along with Stanley Smith, Jonathan Powell, Duane Smith and Reba Smith have all been indicted on robbery charges. Duane Smith was already convicted and sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the crime, and the cases are still pending for Powell and Reba Smith.

The robbery took place on Cleveland’s Lake Avenue in October 2009. During that incident, police said the robbers held the players at gunpoint, ordered them to remove their pants, took the cash and then pepper sprayed them before leaving.

Prosecutors said that Powell pretended to be a victim, but he actually set up the robbery.