Israeli Mobster Accused of Running $20K High-Stakes Poker Ring in L.A., Threatening Players Over Debts and Torched Mansions
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — Federal prosecutors say a deported Israeli mobster helped enforce debts from an underground network of $20,000 buy-in poker games attended by celebrities and athletes in Los Angeles — using death threats, arsons, and violence to collect what players owed.
Assaf “Ace” Waknine, who was deported from the U.S. in 2011, is accused of acting as an enforcer for the illegal gambling circuit that thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic. The alleged mobster is now charged with transmitting threatening communications in interstate and foreign commerce, according to a 35-page federal criminal complaint filed last week.
Lavish Poker Games Turned Violent
Authorities said the high-stakes games were hosted in Hollywood Hills mansions and Beverly Hills estates, complete with DJs, private chefs, and model waitresses serving wealthy players from the entertainment and sports world.
While the games promised exclusivity and prestige, prosecutors said they quickly descended into organized crime operations marked by arson, extortion, and even murder.
In one 2023 attack, two masked suspects allegedly set fire to a Bentley SUV and fired shots into a home where a game had been held — nearly striking people inside. A Molotov cocktail was later thrown at another host’s house, according to court documents.
Murder Sparks Federal Investigation
The federal probe intensified after the June 2023 murder of 33-year-old Emile Lahaziel, who was fatally shot after attending one of the high-roller poker games in the Hollywood Hills.
While Waknine is not charged with Lahaziel’s murder, prosecutors say he later threatened another poker host, referencing Lahaziel’s death to intimidate him.
“OK [Victim-1], I guess you really want to end up like your other b— a— poker budd,” Waknine allegedly wrote in a message obtained by federal investigators.
Two suspects have been charged with Lahaziel’s murder and are awaiting trial.
Threats, Intimidation, and “Enforcers”
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Waknine and his brother allegedly hired California gang members to serve as “muscle” — extorting money from players who owed debts from the poker games.
In one chilling exchange, prosecutors say Waknine told a poker host:
“Listen good, motherf—er. We explained to you in a very direct manner — don’t f— us.”
Investigators believe Waknine was operating out of Mexico while sending the threatening messages, which traveled across state and international lines, triggering federal jurisdiction.
Federal Authorities Describe “Criminal Network of Intimidation”
Prosecutors said the games became a front for organized debt collection and violent intimidation, designed to maintain fear among players. Though the complaint stops short of linking Waknine directly to the murder, it alleges he was “at minimum aware” of the killing and used it to scare others into compliance.
The ongoing federal case paints a chilling picture of what was once a glitzy underground poker scene turned criminal enterprise.
Waknine’s attorney denied all allegations, telling the Los Angeles Times that his client “had no involvement in any threats or violent acts.”
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