NJ Man Flushes Millions In Fake Poker Chips Down Toilet, Gets Prison

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- One poker player's multi-million dollar "flush" is sending him to prison.

Christian Lusardi, 43, was found guilty of bringing millions of dollars in counterfeit chips to an Atlantic City poker tournament -- and then breaking the plumbing in a casino when he flushed them down the toilet in an attempt to hide the evidence when he suspected the scheme was uncovered.

Lusardi pleaded guilty to trademark counterfeiting and criminal mischief.

The incident forced the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa to cancel their poker tournament in January 2014 because the counterfeit chips were made to resemble Borgata's. As part of the sentence, Lusardi must pay the casino $463, 540 in restitution for revenue lost due to the tournament's cancellation.

Lusardi must also pay Harrah's Casino and Hotel $9,455 for damage to their plumbing system. Authorities say the chips clogged the pipes and guests on the floor below complained that water was dripping into their rooms.

Lusardi had won $6,814 in the tournament before it was cancelled.

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