Poker Pro Jordan Cristos Sentenced After Threatening WPT CEO and Judge

Poker player Jordan Cristos, age 38, has been sentenced to between 14 and 48 months in prison after admitting to sending threatening electronic messages to a family court judge and World Poker Tour leadership. The case involved communications linked to a child custody dispute and a separate effort to pressure the World Poker Tour to restore his online account.

Good to Know

• Cristos pleaded guilty to attempted stalking using electronic communication
• Threats were directed at a family court judge and WPT executives
• Prior history of similar conduct was a factor in the sentencing decision

Cristos left messages for Judge Regina McConnell, who had been overseeing a custody case involving him. Prosecutors said those messages included a death threat. He also contacted World Poker Tour CEO Adam Pliska and other WPT staff with messages tied to his attempt to regain access to an online poker account, according to reporting from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

During the sentencing hearing, District Judge Monica Trujillo stated that Cristos had shown repeated incidents of similar behavior, referencing a previous 180-day jail sentence in Clark County on another stalking-related matter.

Judge Trujillo told Cristos:

“I am extremely concerned by your prior history, by your repetitive behavior. I do understand rehabilitation. However, it’s clear to the court that even when you had help and you had the required counseling, that for some reason… if something doesn’t go your way, that you continue to harass people and you continue to violate prior orders.”

Cristos expressed remorse in court, telling the judge he intends to change course moving forward:

“I’m very sorry for my behavior and what’s happened in the past, and I promise it will never happen again.”

However, prosecutor Laura Rose noted that Cristos violated a domestic violence protective order in a separate matter by arranging for someone else to contact the protected individual on his behalf. The email in question was titled Wrongfully Incarcerated. Judge Trujillo said that violation influenced the final sentence.

Cristos has nearly $3.8 million in live tournament winnings throughout his poker career. His best-known result came in 2013, when he won the WPT Legends of Poker at the Bicycle Casino for $613,355.

FAQ

What offense did Cristos plead guilty to?

Attempted stalking using Internet or electronic communication.

Why did prosecutors highlight previous behavior?

The court noted repeated violations and prior involvement in similar incidents.

Did Cristos show remorse?

Yes, he apologized and stated he intends to avoid future incidents.

Is Cristos still active in professional poker?

He has major live results, but current participation is unclear following sentencing.

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