PocketFives can exclusively report that 2004 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Greg Raymer, who was picked up on prostitution-related chargesin Wake Forest, North Carolina last week, has been given a formal leave of absence from the Board of Directors of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA). He is no longer listed on the PPA’s website as being a member of the Board.

PPA Executive Director John Pappas told PocketFives on Wednesday, “Earlier today, members of the Board of Directors of the Poker Players Alliance had a conversation with Board member Greg Raymer. Mr. Raymer requested, and the rest of the PPA Board accepted, that he be given a formal leave of absence as member of the PPA Board.” How long the leave will last, and whether Raymer will rejoin the Board in the future, are not known.

Raymer’s arrest occurred last week as part of a sting by law enforcement officials at a Wake Forest hotel. Six men were arrested in total, including Raymer, whose attorney told us, “Mr. Raymer is very sorry for this lapse in judgment. He regrets deeply the pain he has caused his family, friends, and fans. Mr. Raymer is grateful for the many expressions of support he has received.”

The PPA then met to discuss Raymer’s position and ultimately came to the decision to grant him a leave of absence. Pappas continued, “The recent and unfortunate news regarding Greg has led him to decide that it is best for the PPA that he step away from his position on the Board while he deals with his legal and personal issues. The Board agrees with this decision and views it to be in the best interest of the organization. We are at a critical juncture in the fight for poker rights and we have to make sure side issues do not obscure focus from the main issue.”

Pappas concluded by telling PocketFives, “Effective today, Greg is no longer on the PPA Board of Directors. However, he is eligible for future reinstatement should the Board deem it to be in the interest of the organization. For many years, Greg has served in a distinguished manner on our Board and has been a stalwart advocate for the poker community. We thank Greg for his service and we wish his family and him the best as they deal with this personal situation.”

Raymer has been a longtime supporter of poker players on Capitol Hill and has utilized his former career as a patent attorney to the community’s benefit. His first hearing in North Carolina is set for April 18, and he was released on $1,000 bond. Others arrested along with Raymer included Kevin Scott Konarzewski, Barrett Lee Bennett, Christopher Burell Shella, Robert Hancock, and Gerald Barham.

Our original article reporting Raymer’s arrest received 62 comments from PocketFivers, the most in recent months for any piece of content. The PPA has recently shifted its focus to the state-by-state legalization of online poker in the U.S. after attempts to regulate online poker on a Federal level have largely proved unsuccessful.

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