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(AsiaGameHub) – A well-known Indiana-based U.S. poker player was killed earlier this March in an incident prosecutors believe involved a dispute over an unpaid marijuana debt, not gambling-related losses.
Marijuana Business
James “Matt” Lushin, a real estate investor and frequent participant in the poker circuit, was discovered dead at his Westfield residence on March 12.
Per the Westfield Police Department, the 47-year-old had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the back and was declared dead by paramedics who responded to the scene.
Shortly afterward, the case took an unforeseen twist when law enforcement began uncovering details pointing to a side business that likely contributed to his death.
Authorities state that Lushin was part of a marijuana operation with R.D.B. Jr. The 50-year-old suspect was arrested on March 27 in relation to the homicide.
Investigators think Lushin provided B. with approximately $50,000 worth of marijuana, resulting in an outstanding debt owed by B.
During a search of Lushin’s home, officers found evidence of an ongoing drug operation: jars of marijuana on a counter (seeming ready for packaging) and an open safe holding 11 pounds of marijuana in sealed bags.
Even with this side venture, Lushin was widely recognized for his achievements in poker.
Per the Hendon Mob, he had earned over $511,000 in live tournament winnings and had recently secured a payout at a World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) event in Hammond, Indiana.
Lushin also finished fourth at the WSOPC Main Event in Amsterdam. Friends and fellow poker players characterized him as a respected and popular member of the poker community.
Suspect Under Arrest
The investigation into his death led police to a suspicious vehicle spotted in the area on the day of the shooting. Surveillance video captured a black Dodge Durango driving near Lushin’s home multiple times, with its license plate hidden.
Detectives traced the vehicle to a rental from Indianapolis Airport and identified B. as the renter.
Additional evidence was found in Lushin’s phone records, which showed consistent communication with B. via an encrypted messaging app. Financial records also indicated B. had sent Lushin roughly $18,000 over the past year, but payments ceased just days before the murder.
During a search of B.’s home, officers found vacuum-sealed bags identical to those at Lushin’s residence, plus a firearm matching the type used in the shooting.
Investigators also retrieved items thought to have been used to conceal the vehicle’s license plate.
B. has been charged with murder and is currently in custody. He has refused to cooperate with investigators, and the case is still ongoing.
Ben Grise, a fellow poker player and close friend of Lushin’s, shared his sorrow over the loss of his late friend in an interview with PokerNews.
“You always knew you could spend time with him and he’d make you smile. Finding out about his death right after yesterday’s first final table was really hard,” he said.
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