Cops Search for Poker Heist Bandits

Cops are now searching for the three gunman who apparently killed a New Jersey man by accident during a Friday night Flatiron poker club robbery. Fifty-five-year-old Frank Desena was declared dead at St. Vincent's Hospital shortly after he was shot in the abdomen during the robbery. Initial reports said that Desena was shot when one of the gunmen was picking up his sawed-off shotgun, which he'd dropped. Today, the New York Post is saying that Desena was shot by the gunman's pistol, which he fired when picking up the shotgun.

Witnesses described the three gunmen clad in black screaming "Everyone get down on the f---ing floor!" After forcing their way into the club on 5th Ave. near 28th St. at gunpoint, the robbers started beating the cashier who exchanging passengers cash for chips. The Post wrote that the bandits made off with approximately $100,000, although The New York Times reported that police wouldn't specify how much was taken from the club.

Desena was a Queens native with degrees in business, computer science, and philosophy. Most recently, he taught mathematics at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. He apparently also once entered the Las Vegas World Series of Poker. His brother-in-law said, "It was just wrong place, wrong time...He was just an honest, law-abiding, go-to-work-every-day, care-for-his-family kind of guy."

Cops believe that one of the robbers responsible for Desena's death may be a former gambler at the club, which has been open for less than two weeks. And while poker clubs are not illegal, it's illegal for the clubs to take a share.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Dave Hogarty in News on November 4, 2007 10:05 AM

Comments [rss]

RandomFactory

This Gothamist site crashed when I tried to create and save a new avatar. The default bear does not work for me. Anyone know how to use the edit profile function so it doesn't crash?

Eric Random, Founder

The Random Factory

Independent Critical Thought

RandomFactory

I should have added "a national pastime enjoyed by millions of people, male and female, young and old". Marginalizing poker through silly, outdated laws puts decent human beings who enjoy the game in harm's way.

Please contact Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank if you are interested in how laws governing poker and other games people play can be improved.

Eric Random, Founder

The Random Factory

Independent Critical Thought

RandomFactory

You guys are right. This article is pathetic in its use of language and grammar - what does poker playing have to do with "passengers"? With so many basic mistakes, one has to wonder about the accuracy of the news being reported.

And, dear Steven, a young, beautiful girl, you have a lot to learn about poker and life. I'm proud to tell you that Frank Desena was my friend and fellow poker player, and that poker is only played underground in New York because of the hypocritical, out-of-date laws that render it "illegal" in the Empire State. Poker is a brilliant game that is now a national pastime and Frank's death is a testament to the need to reform our antiquated laws...

Eric Random, Founder

The Random Factory

Independent Critical Thought

drewo

so why was he in an underground club?

If it was overground, they might have proper security to prevent something like this from happening. And then the state could weasel in and skim off their usual cut of the profits, in the form of taxes.

Steven

"He was just an honest, law-abiding, go-to-work-every-day, care-for-his-family kind of guy."

so why was he in an underground club?

surfin jesus

Can't the "writers" on this blog proofread their goddamned entries at least ONCE before publishing?

"....the cashier who exchanging passengers cash for chips."

??!

Come on!