Poker Player Killed in Indiana Over $50K Drug Debt

A well-known poker player in Indiana, US, was killed earlier in March in what prosecutors believe was a dispute over a marijuana debt, not gambling losses.

Marijuana Business

James “Matt” Lushin, a real estate investor and regular on the poker circuit, was found dead at his home in Westfield on March 12. 

According to the Westfield Police Department, the 47-year-old man had been shot multiple times in the back and was pronounced dead by the paramedics that arrived at the scene.

The case took an unexpected turn soon after, as police started uncovering a series of details hinting at a separate business venture that may have led to his death.

According to authorities, Lushin had been involved in a marijuana operation alongside R.D.B.Jr.. The 50-year-old was arrested on March 27 in connection with the killing. 

Investigators believe Lushin had supplied B. with around $50,000 worth of marijuana, which left B. with an unpaid debt.

Inside Lushin’s home, officers found signs of an active drug operation, including jars of marijuana sitting on a counter, apparently ready for packaging, and an open safe that contained 11 pounds of marijuana in sealed bags.

Despite this side business, Lushin was widely known for his success in poker. 

He had accumulated more than $511,000 in live tournament earnings, according to the Hendon Mob, and had recently cashed in a World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) event in Hammond, Indiana. 

Lushin also came in fourth at the WSOPC Main Event in Amsterdam. Friends and fellow players described him as a respected and well-liked figure in the poker community.

Suspect Under Arrest

The investigation into his death led police to a suspicious vehicle seen in the neighborhood on the day of the shooting. Surveillance footage showed a black Dodge Durango driving repeatedly near Lushin’s home, with its license plate concealed. 

Detectives traced the vehicle back to a rental from Indianapolis airport and identified B. as the person who rented it.

Police found more evidence in Lushin’s phone records, which showed regular communication with B. through an encrypted messaging app. Also, financial records revealed that B. had sent Lushin about $18,000 over the past year, but the payments stopped just a few days before the killing.

When officers searched B.’s home, they found vacuum-sealed bags similar to those at Lushin’s property, along with a firearm matching the type used in the shooting. 

Investigators also recovered materials believed to have been used to hide the vehicle’s license plate.

B. has been charged with murder and is currently in custody. He has not cooperated with investigators, and the case remains under investigation.

Fellow poker player Ben Grise, one of Lushin’s close friends and fellow poker pro, expressed his regret about the loss of his late friend in an interview for PokerNews.

“You always knew you could hang out with him and he’d put a smile on your face. It was tough to find that out after the first final table yesterday,“ he commented.