A Michigan poker player and four-time World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) Ring winner was allegedly kidnapped and held captive for more than a month as part of a two-year extortion scheme that federal investigators are apparently looking into.
According to local news reports on Dec. 21, George Janssen of Bad Axe, Michigan was found on a rural road in Meade Township bloodied and with his hands zip-tied after flagging down a passerby.
“Suspicious situation,” a dispatcher stated, as reported by ABC 12. “Guy’s hands were zip-tied, says he was held captive for a month.”
It is believed that Janssen, a poker player and former car dealership owner with $440,763 in Hendon Mob earnings, has been the victim of an extortion scheme for the past two years. A family member told local media that Janseen claimed he was abducted by two or three people and held captive in the basement of a home in the Toledo area for 35 days before being driven back to Hurron County on Dec. 16.
Janssen’s family first reported him missing on Nov. 13, according to ABC 12. A family friend eventually found Janssen’s car and police photos show a few $50 bills scattered on the floor of the car.
Janssen Had Recent Poker Success
Janssen’s poker success includes four WSOP Circuit Ring victories, including a win in the WSOP Michigan Circuit Super Series Event #3 – $20,000 NLH 6-Max earlier this year for $6,281.
More recently, Janssen, who plays under the username “georgejanssen” on WSOP and “georgjanssen” on PokerStars, took down the MSPT Venetian $1,600 Main Event in September for a career-best $82,823. Just weeks earlier, Janssen finished third in the MSPT Ohio Poker State Championship for $79,861.
Janssen’s first live poker cash dates back to October 2015 from a 30th-place finish in the MSPT Battle Creek Main Event for $2,704.
Local reports about the alleged abduction noted that Janssen “has made quite a bit of money playing poker” and referenced his MSPT earnings.
*Photo courtesy of Monroe County Sheriff’s Department