Should Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, and Rafe Furst Be Banned from Poker?

The U.S. Department of Justice dropped yet another bomb on the United States poker community on Tuesday when they added Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, and Rafe Furst to the civil complaint filed against Full Tilt, PokerStars, and UB.  Furthermore, they revealed that Full Tilt Poker had not segregated player funds and actually used those funds to pay their bills as well as their owners.  As it stands, the company has only around $6 Million left in their accounts and owes $390 Million.

If the Full Tilt saga isnt resolved, we may not see these two in poker again.

After the initial outrage over what the DOJ called a Ponzi scheme perpetrated by Fulll Tilt Poker, the many started to call on the owners named to pay back funds and for stiff punishments.  The Epic Poker League announced on Wednesday that both Lederer and Ferguson were suspended from the league until their matters with the DOJ have been resolved.  Furst never qualified for the league, so his suspension was not necessary.
However, this brings up a question for the rest of the poker community.  Now that the extent of mismanagement by Full Tilt has been revealed, will anyone named in the civil complaint be allowed back into the game of poker at any reasonable level.  Can the WSOP or WPT take the hit to their reputation that will come if they allow them to play.  Also, can they guarantee the players’ safety.  If players wind up not getting repaid funds due them, this could drive some to violence.

My personal take is that Full Tilt players named in the suit should be banned from all poker related functions until this matter is resolved satisfactorily.  By that, I mean that the complaints are answered and the players repaid, even if in part.  If the players are not paid, then I do not feel that either Ferguson, Lederer, or even Furst have any legitimate right to play in any type of professional league ever again.

I know this view seems a bit extreme, but if things turn out like many believe, this will end up costing players over three times as much as the UltimateBet cheating scandal of a few years ago.  Russ Hamilton will look tame compared to Full Tilt.

Hopefully, those at Full Tilt get this matter resolved and in a way that returns funds to players.  Otherwise, those three need to retire from the game.