University of Iowa Student Charged with Funding Illegal Poker Gambling

As of May 11, 2007, a 19 year-old student from the University of Iowa has been charged by the local police department with 4 gambling offenses because he was allegedly holding prohibited Texas Hold'em poker games with a total of $800 in jackpot prizes at his own residence.

The police officers said that the house of Jonathan Koch in Iowa City was used for illegal poker games and that Koch set up tables at the garage of their home, in their basement and on the main floor of the residence so that the players would have a place to play.

The police department alleges that Jonathan Koch was the banker on these illegal Texas Hold'em poker games. The charges filed by the police officers include 2 counts of illegal gambling, which are considered Class D felonies and carry the punishment of a 5 year prisoner term and a total of $7,500 in total fines, as well as 2 counts of having a gambling establishment.

There is also a serious misdemeanor charge which carries a 1 year jail term and a fine of $1,500. Mr. Koch was also charged with 4 drug counts after the officers found a pound of marijuana, drug tools and $1,640 in total cash in Koch's house.

Before making the arrests, one of the police officers played as an undercover agent at one of the poker games in Koch's house. Koch is now imprisoned at the Johnson County Jail with a $25,000 bail bond.

All of the charges carry a total of a 24 year prison sentence and $38,000 in fines. Although unemployed, Koch has a BMW worth $70,000 and $25,000 worth of jewelry.

June 10, 2007
William Atkins