DiVita recently recounted his experience in an interview with the highly-charged and controversial QuadJacks Radio show. DiVita claims that, as he returned Tuesday to participate in the EPL’s main event, he was quickly accosted by Standards and Ethics Committee Chairman Stephen Martin. From there, DiVita was advised that, due to his sex offender status, participating in the Main Event wasn’t in the best interest of any of the party. Although DiVita was reluctant, he would agree to withdraw from the tournament if he was awarded his $20,000 buy-in. Unfortunately for DiVita, Martin allegedly informed him that such terms were unsatisfactory, and was only offered his initial $1,500.
Obviously, DiVita was less than thrilled with the offer and claims he informed the Ethic Director that he would decline the proposition and play the Main Event. Things then got heated and, according to DiVita, he received various threats from Martin. “We will stop you…It will get very public, and probably be very embarrassing for you…We will say that you withdrew,”DiVita quotes Martin as saying. From this point, DiVita alleges that a crew of Palms Casino Resort security staff arrived in order to intimidate him into taking the $1,500. Ultimately he took the money and was subsequently publically “escorted” from the casino by the security officers.
DiVita still feels wronged, however, and isn’t quite ready to let the controversy disappear. “What I was due was $20,000. What I was given was $1,500. I’d like the balance sent to me within ten days. If my money is not received by that date, I will file a lawsuit against Federated Sports & Gaming, the Epic Poker League, and all of its partners and principals, for not only my $18,500, but also additional damages for many other causes of action, including civil rights violations, against me.”
Though the league’s code of conduct assumes the authority to discipline any player whose actions “undermines or puts at risk the integrity or reputation of the poker community or the Epic Poker League,” it’s unlikely that such a waiver gives the EPL free license to deprive a player of his fairly won prize money for an open event in which no such waiver was likely signed. Interestingly, if the EPL were to ban all players with noteworthy criminal records, it would seem several noteworthy EPL members could be subject to such “discipline.” Coming off the heels of Chino Rheem’s much discussed victory; the EPL seems to encounter controversy everywhere it turns. It will be interesting to see whether or not the EPL will stand by its actions or attempt to save face and refund DiVita his $20,000 seat and try their best to sweep issue under the rug. Check back for more.
