Gossip Column: From Kidnapping Victim to FBI Suspect: The Twisting Tale of Poker Pro George Janssen

The saga of George Janssen, a poker player with four WSOP Circuit rings and a Mid-States Poker Tour Main Event title has veered off into some seriously unexpected territory. This guy went from being the supposed victim of a terrifying kidnapping to finding himself square in the crosshairs of the FBI, suspected of masterminding a complex fraud operation.

A Disappearance That Sent Shockwaves

Back in November 2023, the poker community was buzzing with worry when Janssen vanished. The tension ratcheted up when, over a month later, he was discovered on a desolate Michigan road, bloodied and restrained with zip ties. Janssen spun a yarn about being held prisoner in a basement for 35 agonizing days, claiming he was the target of a hefty $2 Million extortion plot. He insisted that shadowy criminals had been squeezing him for vast sums of money for more than two years.

The whole scenario had a creepy vibe, reminiscent of the 1996 movie Fargo, in which a car salesman fakes a kidnapping to escape money troubles. That parallel is now even more potent as investigators uncover a different angle to this story—one that involves multi-million-dollar fraud.

The FBI Unveils a Web of Deceit

A newly released FBI complaint alleges that Janssen was busy defrauding nearly two dozen financial institutions. The accusations suggest a man teetering on the brink of financial ruin, pulling off elaborate scams to keep his head above water.

Bogus Auto Loans and Shady Dealings

The complaint lays out how, in August 2023, the Michigan Department of State Office of Investigative Services conducted an audit of Bay Auto Brokers, Janssen’s used car business, and discovered he’d submitted a bunch of loan applications for vehicles that didn’t exist. This wasn’t his first rodeo with falsifying records, and his license to sell cars was suspended for five years.

Just days before Janssen’s November 2023 vanishing act, a COPOCO Credit Union executive contacted the FBI. The executive reported that Janssen had deposited a string of cheques totalling $1.40 million, which subsequently bounced like rubber balls. In the meantime, the credit union had already handed Janssen $1.30 Million in good faith, which he promptly withdrew before the fraudulent nature of the deposits came to light.

The Vanishing Act and the Money Trail

While Janssen was “missing,” federal authorities stumbled upon a trail of unpaid loans—loans taken out by his close associates, supposedly at his urging. Allegedly, Janssen and his buddies managed to grab over $3.93 Million from various financial institutions, leaving an outstanding debt of at least $1.94 Million. Add in COPOCO Credit Union’s missing funds, and the grand total soars to a staggering nearly $3.30 Million.

Friends and Family Spilling the Tea

The complaint reveals how numerous friends, and even Janssen’s own son, Connor Janssen, rushed to law enforcement to put some distance between themselves and the unfolding mess. They voiced concerns about being duped by Janssen, who allegedly talked them into taking out multiple car loans.

Connor, who worked as a salesman at Bay Auto Brokers, is alleged to have knowingly deposited fake cheques into company accounts. According to the complaint, he admitted that while he initially believed the vehicles were legit, he never actually saw them or any related documents. He even grew suspicious that his father was cooking up the loan paperwork using Microsoft Word.

The Kidnapping Story: Real or Fabricated?

Janssen’s account of his kidnapping is now under a powerful microscope. There are gaps and inconsistencies in his narrative, and his financial woes certainly raise eyebrows about his motives.

Michigan police records show that a family member received a handwritten note from Janssen during his absence, cryptically spelling out “Kidnap.” Yet, investigators also learned that Janssen was drowning in debt, a situation that could easily have provided a motive for orchestrating a disappearing act.

The Heat is On

After Janssen reappeared, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office closed its missing persons case and handed everything over to the FBI. While Janssen hasn’t been formally charged, the sheer weight of the allegations suggests that legal storms are brewing.

This story initially thought to be about a poker pro’s terrifying ordeal, has morphed into a gripping tale of deception, financial desperation, and alleged criminal activity. As the FBI continues its deep dive, the poker community and beyond are left waiting with bated breath for the full truth to surface – the truth behind the supposed kidnapping and the millions of dollars in questionable loans.

Janssen’s story, once perceived as the tragic situation of a poker pro facing adversity, has now evolved into a sombre warning about risk, economic strain, and alleged crime.