Crew Arrested for Allegedly Stalking, Robbing Nearly 20 Poker Players in Houston This Year

Houston police believe a series of poker-related robberies in recent weeks is tied to a group of suspects, some of whom have already been arrested.

A number of area poker players this year have been followed home and robbed after leaving a local card room. Most of the incidents — approximately 20 — have involved players leaving Lucky J Social Club, according to a report from ABC 13 News in Houston.

What’s Going on with the Houston Poker Scene

Houston is a hotbed for poker, known for hosting some of the juiciest cash games. But the major U.S. city, Texas’ second-largest metropolitan area (7.5 million residents), has been home to multiple violent poker-related incidents in recent weeks.

A player who won a large sum of money playing cards on Aug. 1 was followed back to his hotel, robbed, and attacked by two suspects captured on surveillance video. The suspects punched the victim in the head as he waited for an elevator in the hotel lobby and stole his wallet before bolting out of the building in a white sedan.

Four suspects last week allegedly followed a 70-year-old man who had just left Lucky J’s back to his home, where they attempted to rob the poker player. His wife, however, screamed enough to scare the suspects away, according to police.

The suspects — Jayden Batiste, Exavier Brown, Keion Thompson, and Keyveon Thompson — fled from the home in a car, but crashed the car and attempted to flee the scene on foot before being arrested and charged with aggravated robbery of a person over 65.

Keion Thompson had just received, two days prior, a deferred adjudication for allegedly pointing a gun at his girlfriend in March. He avoided jail time under the condition that he stay out of trouble, but he was back in trouble just two days later.

The 23-year-old is currently being held at the Harris County Jail. He was booked on Aug. 22 and given a $30,000 bond that, as of Tuesday, hasn’t been paid. His brother, Keyveon, is also still in custody and has a $20,000 bond set.

Batiste, 23, bonded out on Aug. 23, while Brown, 23, remains in custody. Police anticipate additional arrests in the coming weeks. Up to 20 players have been targeted in recent weeks, according to police.

Authorities believe the aforementioned alleged criminals are part of a group that has been waiting outside Houston poker rooms and following players home. They then allegedly physically attack the victims and attempt to steal their possessions.

Lucky J Social Club, an 18-table card room, is located in the same spot as the former Johnny Chan’s 88 Social, co-owned by Poker Hall of Famer Johnny Chan. The room mysteriously closed its doors in December 2021.

A new ownership team came in weeks later to take over the facility and rename it 101 Poker Club Richmond, which then became Elite Social Club and is now Lucky J Social Club.

The area of town has attracted multiple violent incidents at the nearby controversial and popular Legends Poker Room.

The alleged robbers have also targeted players from two other Houston card rooms since January, ABC 13’s Jessica Willey reported. All suspects who’ve been arrested have upcoming court dates set for October.

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