VICTORIA —
The B.C. government has terminated membership in the Order of British Columbia for a former Canadian Football League player involved in a U.S. college admissions cheating scam.

David Sidoo, a former CFL player and businessman from Vancouver, was appointed to the Order of B.C. in July 2016. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in a Boston federal court in March.

On Friday, the province announced it had revoked Sidoo’s membership in the Order of B.C.

“This process is initiated when a member of the order is convicted of a criminal offence or when their conduct undermines the credibility and integrity of the order,” the province said in a statement.

Sidoo was among 50 prominent parents, university athletic coaches and others charged in the scheme, which authorities say involved rigged entrance exams and bogus athletic credentials to make applicants look like star athletes for sports they didn’t play.

Sidoo paid the admissions consultant at the centre of the scheme US$200,000 to have someone pose as his sons using a fake ID to secure higher scores on their SATs, prosecutors said.

Sidoo and nearly two dozen parents, including Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman, pleaded guilty to the charges. Huffman was sentenced to two weeks in prison. Sentences for other parents range from no prison time to nine months behind bars.

Sidoo played professional football for six years for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and BC Lions. He was CEO of mining firm Advantage Lithium Corp. when he was arrested last year and was also a founding shareholder of an oil and gas company that was sold in 2010 for more than $600 million.

With files from The Associated Press

March 15 (UPI) — A professional poker player was indicted for wire fraud Thursday, accused of bilking investors out of more than $6 million in a scheme involving Super Bowl and World Cup tickets.

Federal prosecutors in California’s central district say Seyed Reza Ali Fazeli, 49, ran a bogus Las Vegas-based ticket business called Summit Entertainment, which he used to solicit investors in California, Texas and Nevada, promising big returns on the resale of tickets to the 2017 Super Bowl and the upcoming 2018 World Cup.

After investors wired more than $6 million to Ali, he “falsely told the victims that the ticket sales did not go well because the NFL prohibited their resale and that he was working on a settlement with the NFL,” prosecutors said.

But court documents show that Ali never purchased the tickets.

“Instead, he used the money for gambling expenses at the Aria and Bellagio casinos in Las Vegas and for personal expenses,” prosecutors said.

Ali was charged with two counts of wire fraud an faces up to 40 years in prison.

He also faces several civil lawsuits related to the ticket scheme, the Orange County Register reported.

This isn’t the first time Ali was involved in a high-dollar ticket-flipping scheme.

In 2006, he sold World Cup tickets online through onlinetickets.com. But those tickets were never received, resulting in a lawsuit and a $1,176,500 settlement against Ali.

March 16 (UPI) — A professional poker player was indicted for wire fraud Thursday for allegedly bilking investors out of more than $6 million in a scheme involving Super Bowl and World Cup tickets.

Federal prosecutors in California’s central district say Seyed Reza Ali Fazeli, 49, ran a bogus Las Vegas-based ticket business called Summit Entertainment, which he used to solicit investors in California, Texas and Nevada, promising big returns on the resale of tickets to the 2017 Super Bowl and the upcoming 2018 World Cup.

After investors wired more than $6 million to Ali, he “falsely told the victims that the ticket sales did not go well because the NFL prohibited their resale and that he was working on a settlement with the NFL,” prosecutors said.

But court documents show that Ali never purchased the tickets.

“Instead, he used the money for gambling expenses at the Aria and Bellagio casinos in Las Vegas and for personal expenses,” prosecutors said.

Ali was charged with two counts of wire fraud and faces up to 40 years in prison.

He also faces several civil lawsuits related to the ticket scheme, the Orange County Register reported.

This isn’t the first time Ali was involved in a high-dollar ticket-flipping scheme.

In 2006, he sold World Cup tickets online through onlinetickets.com. But those tickets were never received, resulting in a lawsuit and a $1,176,500 settlement against Ali.

March 15 (UPI) — A professional poker player was indicted for wired fraud Thursday for allegedly bilking investors out of more than $6 million in a scheme involving Super Bowl and World Cup tickets.

Federal prosecutors in California’s central district say Seyed Reza Ali Fazeli, 49, ran a bogus Las Vegas-based ticket business called Summit Entertainment, which he used to solicit investors in California, Texas and Nevada, promising big returns on the resale of tickets to the 2017 Super Bowl and the upcoming 2018 World Cup.

After investors wired more than $6 million to Ali, he “falsely told the victims that the ticket sales did not go well because the NFL prohibited their resale and that he was working on a settlement with the NFL,” prosecutors said.

But court documents show that Ali never purchased the tickets.

“Instead, he used the money for gambling expenses at the Aria and Bellagio casinos in Las Vegas and for personal expenses,” prosecutors said.

Ali was charged with two counts of wire fraud an faces up to 40 years in prison.

He also faces several civil lawsuits related to the ticket scheme, the Orange County Register reported.

This isn’t the first time Ali was involved in a high-dollar ticket-flipping scheme.

In 2006, he sold World Cup tickets online through onlinetickets.com. But those tickets were never received, resulting in a lawsuit and a $1,176,500 settlement against Ali.

UPPER MERION >> On Feb. 8 criminal complaints were filed in Montgomery County District Court against two men for their roles in a counterfeit cash scheme at Valley Forge Casino.

Former dealer, Long Vu Tong, 34, of Souderton, and Lieu Khang David Bui, 21, of Philadelphia, are charged with theft by deception, criminal conspiracy and forgery in connection with the exchange of fake bills for $4,000 in cash on the casino floor last fall.

According to arresting documents, Bui entered the casino around 7:11 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2017, and sat down at the Spanish 21 where Tong was dealing.

Bui removed $2,500 from his pocket, which Tong laid out on the table before depositing in a drop box and handing Bui $2,500 worth of chips.

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Bui then played at the table briefly before cashing out and playing a little roulette, but returned to Tong’s table and presented another $1,500 which Tong accepted and exchanged for chips as before.

After playing a little while longer, Bui cashed out again and went to the cage to exchange his chips for cash.

Casino counters discovered that the bills Bui gave to Tong did not have embedded red and blue fibers and were not printed on genuine U.S. currency paper. And on Nov. 21, the bills were confirmed to be counterfeit by a Secret Service Agent.

On Nov. 28, and again on Nov. 29, Tong was interviewed by state troopers with the Valley Forge Gaming Office.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, he initially admitted only a passing acquaintance with Bui, but later said he received a phone call from Bui earlier on the day of the incident in which Bui informed him of his intentions to pass the counterfeit bills.

Tong told investigators that he initially thought Bui was joking and he told him not to do it, but Bui showed up at his table anyway so he “let it slide” and continued on with his work.

Tong also told investigators he later drove Bui to the King of Prussia Mall and voiced his displeasure at the situation by “cursing and telling him off.”

He said Bui offered him a cut, but he refused.

Preliminary hearings for both men are scheduled for March 7.

UPPER MERION >> On Feb. 8 criminal complaints were filed in Montgomery County District Court against two men for their roles in a counterfeit cash scheme at Valley Forge Casino.

Former dealer, Long Vu Tong, 34, of Souderton, and Lieu Khang David Bui, 21, of Philadelphia, are charged with theft by deception, criminal conspiracy and forgery in connection with the exchange of fake bills for $4,000 in cash on the casino floor last fall.

According to arresting documents, Bui entered the casino around 7:11 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2017, and sat down at the Spanish 21 where Tong was dealing.

Bui removed $2,500 from his pocket, which Tong laid out on the table before depositing in a drop box and handing Bui $2,500 worth of chips.

Advertisement

Bui then played at the table briefly before cashing out and playing a little roulette, but returned to Tong’s table and presented another $1,500 which Tong accepted and exchanged for chips as before.

After playing a little while longer, Bui cashed out again and went to the cage to exchange his chips for cash.

Casino counters discovered that the bills Bui gave to Tong did not have embedded red and blue fibers and were not printed on genuine U.S. currency paper. And on Nov. 21, the bills were confirmed to be counterfeit by a Secret Service Agent.

On Nov. 28, and again on Nov. 29, Tong was interviewed by state troopers with the Valley Forge Gaming Office.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, he initially admitted only a passing acquaintance with Bui, but later said he received a phone call from Bui earlier on the day of the incident in which Bui informed him of his intentions to pass the counterfeit bills.

Tong told investigators that he initially thought Bui was joking and he told him not to do it, but Bui showed up at his table anyway so he “let it slide” and continued on with his work.

Tong also told investigators he later drove Bui to the King of Prussia Mall and voiced his displeasure at the situation by “cursing and telling him off.”

He said Bui offered him a cut, but he refused.

Preliminary hearings for both men are scheduled for March 7.

UPPER MERION >> On Feb. 8 criminal complaints were filed in Montgomery County District Court against two men for their roles in a counterfeit cash scheme at Valley Forge Casino.

Former dealer, Long Vu Tong, 34, of Souderton, and Lieu Khang David Bui, 21, of Philadelphia, are charged with theft by deception, criminal conspiracy and forgery in connection with the exchange of fake bills for $4,000 in cash on the casino floor last fall.

According to arresting documents, Bui entered the casino around 7:11 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2017, and sat down at the Spanish 21 where Tong was dealing.

Bui removed $2,500 from his pocket, which Tong laid out on the table before depositing in a drop box and handing Bui $2,500 worth of chips.

Advertisement

Bui then played at the table briefly before cashing out and playing a little roulette, but returned to Tong’s table and presented another $1,500 which Tong accepted and exchanged for chips as before.

After playing a little while longer, Bui cashed out again and went to the cage to exchange his chips for cash.

Casino counters discovered that the bills Bui gave to Tong did not have embedded red and blue fibers and were not printed on genuine U.S. currency paper. And on Nov. 21, the bills were confirmed to be counterfeit by a Secret Service Agent.

On Nov. 28, and again on Nov. 29, Tong was interviewed by state troopers with the Valley Forge Gaming Office.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, he initially admitted only a passing acquaintance with Bui, but later said he received a phone call from Bui earlier on the day of the incident in which Bui informed him of his intentions to pass the counterfeit bills.

Tong told investigators that he initially thought Bui was joking and he told him not to do it, but Bui showed up at his table anyway so he “let it slide” and continued on with his work.

Tong also told investigators he later drove Bui to the King of Prussia Mall and voiced his displeasure at the situation by “cursing and telling him off.”

He said Bui offered him a cut, but he refused.

Preliminary hearings for both men are scheduled for March 7.

KING OF PRUSSIA >> Criminal complaints were filed in Montgomery County District Court against two men for their alleged roles in a counterfeit cash scheme at Valley Forge Casino.

Former dealer, Long Vu Tong, 34, of Souderton, and Lieu Khang David Bui, 21, of Philadelphia, are charged with theft by deception, criminal conspiracy and forgery in connection with the exchange of fake bills for $4,000 in cash on the casino floor last fall.

According to arresting documents, Bui entered the casino around 7:11 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2017, and sat down at the Spanish 21 where Tong was dealing.

Bui removed $2,500 from his pocket, which Tong laid out on the table before depositing in a drop box and handing Bui $2,500 worth of chips.

Advertisement

Bui then played at the table briefly before cashing out and playing a little roulette, but returned to Tong’s table and presented another $1,500 which Tong accepted and exchanged for chips as before.

After playing a little while longer, Bui cashed out again and went to the cage to exchange his chips for cash.

Casino counters discovered that the bills Bui gave to Tong did not have embedded red and blue fibers and were not printed on genuine U.S. currency paper. And on Nov. 21, the bills were confirmed to be counterfeit by a U.S. Secret Service agent.

On Nov. 28, and again on Nov. 29, Tong was interviewed by Pennsylvania State Police troopers assigned to the Valley Forge Gaming Office.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Tong initially admitted only a passing acquaintance with Bui, but later said he received a phone call from Bui earlier on the day of the incident in which Bui informed him of his intentions to pass the counterfeit bills.

Tong told investigators that he initially thought Bui was joking and he told him not to do it, but Bui showed up at his table anyway so he “let it slide” and continued on with his work.

Tong also told investigators he later drove Bui to the King of Prussia Mall and voiced his displeasure at the situation by “cursing and telling him off.”

He said Bui offered him a cut, but he refused.

Preliminary hearings for both men are scheduled for March 7.

UPPER MERION >> On Feb. 8 criminal complaints were filed in Montgomery County District Court against two men for their roles in a counterfeit cash scheme at Valley Forge Casino.

Former dealer, Long Vu Tong, 34, of Souderton, and Lieu Khang David Bui, 21, of Philadelphia, are charged with theft by deception, criminal conspiracy and forgery in connection with the exchange of fake bills for $4,000 in cash on the casino floor last fall.

According to arresting documents, Bui entered the casino around 7:11 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2017, and sat down at the Spanish 21 where Tong was dealing.

Bui removed $2,500 from his pocket, which Tong laid out on the table before depositing in a drop box and handing Bui $2,500 worth of chips.

Advertisement

Bui then played at the table briefly before cashing out and playing a little roulette, but returned to Tong’s table and presented another $1,500 which Tong accepted and exchanged for chips as before.

After playing a little while longer, Bui cashed out again and went to the cage to exchange his chips for cash.

Casino counters discovered that the bills Bui gave to Tong did not have embedded red and blue fibers and were not printed on genuine U.S. currency paper. And on Nov. 21, the bills were confirmed to be counterfeit by a Secret Service Agent.

On Nov. 28, and again on Nov. 29, Tong was interviewed by state troopers with the Valley Forge Gaming Office.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, he initially admitted only a passing acquaintance with Bui, but later said he received a phone call from Bui earlier on the day of the incident in which Bui informed him of his intentions to pass the counterfeit bills.

Tong told investigators that he initially thought Bui was joking and he told him not to do it, but Bui showed up at his table anyway so he “let it slide” and continued on with his work.

Tong also told investigators he later drove Bui to the King of Prussia Mall and voiced his displeasure at the situation by “cursing and telling him off.”

He said Bui offered him a cut, but he refused.

Preliminary hearings for both men are scheduled for March 7.

king of prussia >> Criminal complaints were filed in Montgomery County District Court against two men for their alleged roles in a counterfeit cash scheme at Valley Forge Casino.

Former dealer, Long Vu Tong, 34, of Souderton, and Lieu Khang David Bui, 21, of Philadelphia, are charged with theft by deception, criminal conspiracy and forgery in connection with the exchange of fake bills for $4,000 in cash on the casino floor last fall.

According to arresting documents, Bui entered the casino around 7:11 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2017, and sat down at the Spanish 21 where Tong was dealing.

Bui removed $2,500 from his pocket, which Tong laid out on the table before depositing in a drop box and handing Bui $2,500 worth of chips.

Advertisement

Bui then played at the table briefly before cashing out and playing a little roulette, but returned to Tong’s table and presented another $1,500 which Tong accepted and exchanged for chips as before.

After playing a little while longer, Bui cashed out again and went to the cage to exchange his chips for cash.

Casino counters discovered that the bills Bui gave to Tong did not have embedded red and blue fibers and were not printed on genuine U.S. currency paper. And on Nov. 21, the bills were confirmed to be counterfeit by a U.S. Secret Service agent.

On Nov. 28, and again on Nov. 29, Tong was interviewed by Pennsylvania State Police troopers assigned to the Valley Forge Gaming Office.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Tong initially admitted only a passing acquaintance with Bui, but later said he received a phone call from Bui earlier on the day of the incident in which Bui informed him of his intentions to pass the counterfeit bills.

Tong told investigators that he initially thought Bui was joking and he told him not to do it, but Bui showed up at his table anyway so he “let it slide” and continued on with his work.

Tong also told investigators he later drove Bui to the King of Prussia Mall and voiced his displeasure at the situation by “cursing and telling him off.”

He said Bui offered him a cut, but he refused.

Preliminary hearings for both men are scheduled for March 7.