Long Island poker pro charged in Maryland marijuana scheme

BALTIMORE — A professional poker player who was charged in a Long Island marijuana bust earlier this year is now charged with funneling marijuana and hash oils into the Baltimore area.

The Baltimore Sun reports Micah Raskin, 50, was charged Oct. 1 with distributing 100 kilograms or more of marijuana through a criminal information in federal court.

The newspaper couldn't reach his attorney for comment.

The Old Westbury man was arraigned February in Nassau County on felony drug and weapon charges in what officials called one of the largest marijuana seizures in county history. Prosecutors said then he received drug shipments and stored them at his home and a Garden City storage facility, before a courier delivered them to Baltimore, Washington, Virginia and New York.

The marijuana was sold for $1,400 a pound, officials said. More than 350 pounds of the drug with an estimated street value of $500,000 was seized at the time, authorities said.

Industry reports say Raskin has earned nearly $2 million from playing poker.

In a news release for the February arrest, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said the drug dealing “went on for a period of several years.” She said the seizure of marijuana as well as “huge” quantities of hash oils means “this alleged dealer’s time living the high life selling drugs is over.”

Nothing has changed in the Nassau case, the district attorney's office said Wednesday.

With Newsday Staff