Greg Raymer Requests, Given Leave of Absence from PPA Board

Greg Raymer, who was picked up on prostitution-related charges in Wake Forest, North Carolina last week, has been given a formal leave of absence from the Board of Directors of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA). He is no longer listed on the PPA's website as being a member of the Board.


PPA Executive Director John Pappas told us on Wednesday, "Earlier today, members of the Board of Directors of the Poker Players Alliance had a conversation with Board member Greg Raymer. Mr. Raymer requested, and the rest of the PPA Board accepted, that he be given a formal leave of absence as member of the PPA Board." How long the leave will last, and whether Raymer will rejoin the Board in the future, are not known.

Raymer's arrest occurred last week as part of a sting by law enforcement officials at a Wake Forest hotel. Six men were arrested in total, including Raymer, whose attorney told us, "Mr. Raymer is very sorry for this lapse in judgment. He regrets deeply the pain he has caused his family, friends, and fans. Mr. Raymer is grateful for the many expressions of support he has received."

The PPA then met to discuss Raymer's position and ultimately came to the decision to grant him a leave of absence. Pappas continued, "The recent and unfortunate news regarding Greg has led him to decide that it is best for the PPA that he step away from his position on the Board while he deals with his legal and personal issues. The Board agrees with this decision and views it to be in the best interest of the organization. We are at a critical juncture in the fight for poker rights and we have to make sure side issues do not obscure focus from the main issue."

Pappas concluded by telling us, "Effective today, Greg is no longer on the PPA Board of Directors. However, he is eligible for future reinstatement should the Board deem it to be in the interest of the organization. For many years, Greg has served in a distinguished manner on our Board and has been a stalwart advocate for the poker community. We thank Greg for his service and we wish his family and him the best as they deal with this personal situation."

Raymer has been a longtime supporter of poker players on Capitol Hill and has utilized his former career as a patent attorney to the community's benefit. His first hearing in North Carolina is set for April 18, and he was released on $1,000 bond. Others arrested along with Raymer included Kevin Scott Konarzewski, Barrett Lee Bennett, Christopher Burell Shella, Robert Hancock, and Gerald Barham.

The PPA has recently shifted its focus to the state-by-state legalization of online poker in the U.S. after attempts to regulate online poker on a Federal level have largely proved unsuccessful.




Copyright: pocketfives.com
By: Dan Cypra
Published on Mar 20th, 2013

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Makes it sound more like it was their decision not his.

I wish people would give the guy a break!!! Apparently the guy gives money and time to charities....which makes him a dude in my eyes

AlfieAA said:

I wish people would give the guy a break!!! Apparently the guy gives money and time to charities....which makes him a dude in my eyes

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+1

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AlfieAA said:

I wish people would give the guy a break!!! Apparently the guy gives money and time to charities....which makes him a dude in my eyes

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Very true but you can't blame the PPA for not wanting him to be seen as a leading figure in their organization.

Prostitution is illegal, whether it should or shouldn't be is up for debate but he knowingly participated in illegal activity and has no one to blame but himself.

Does this make him a bad guy, of course not. But we can't blame PPA for not wanting him on their board after this.

Can the PPA afford to waive a Greg Raymer ?
I always thought they need every poker fighter they can get...

AlfieAA said:

I wish people would give the guy a break!!! Apparently the guy gives money and time to charities....which makes him a dude in my eyes

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^^^ this
for crying out loud what he did was not that bad imo.
had it been child porn or prostitution then I can understand all the hubbub.

It get's tireing of how the media constantly makes something out of nothing.... His business is his business... Raymer is helping ppl not hurting them....

dakota-xx said:

Makes it sound more like it was their decision not his.

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there should be no doubt it was John Pappas' decision. Whatever you think of what Greg Raymer did, what he did will come up again and again anytime he tries to speak up for our cause. That is a distraction at least, and a stink we don't need at worst. He can no longer be an effective advocate. It has to be this way, that's all there is too it. Nobody's fault but Greg's.

i have been a member since they started and am very grateful for all he has done for american poker players i wish him well

i agree with most here Gregs not bad just has a wierd fetish, im sure there alot worse from more popular players. gl GR fossil man

Isn't it strange how "The News Media" always jump on the negative items,, but hardly ever do you hear what a person might have done for charity or fellow human beings. Give the guy a break.

Well that sucks. Another failing of society that I find pathetic. Honestly I couldn't care if he had ****ed a prostitute or just wanted to, in no way is that indicative of his ability to represent poker. Sad that people care about image to this extent.

Too bad he put his family through this thing~
He probably blew his deal representing on Heartland Poker as much too.
You know, as a smart man, I wonder why he thought answering a blind ad was a good idea!