There are ice-cold poker players and then there’s Rudy Gavaldon, a Michigan man who recently pocketed $20,193 and clinched a World Series of Poker online bracelet in his home state, despite awaiting trial for allegedly intending to murder his wife.
Gavaldon, from Traverse City, faces felony charges in Grand Traverse County for intent to commit murder and for being a habitual offender. Just 11 months after Michigan police arrested and charged Gavaldon for an alleged brutal assault on his wife Lara Gavaldon, he entered the WSOP online bracelet event under the screen name “Flyheim86.”
He won Event #3 — $500 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo 6-Max — and the $20,193. According to poker media reports, while WSOP.com doesn’t release personal information about winners, the name and residence of the Michigan online winner matched Gavaldon’s in a public records search.
days after he finished third in a WSOP Circuit ring event
Gavaldon, who had a pre-trial hearing on June 23, has Lady Luck smiling on his gambling, with his big win coming just days after he finished third in a WSOP Circuit ring event. It remains to be seen, however, if his luck stretches to avoid doing time.
