The US Department of Justice asked for a deadline extension for the indictment against George Janssen, a Michigan poker player who last month was accused of fraud by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
On Feb. 25, the FBI filed a complaint in the US District Court Eastern District of Michigan accusing Janssen of running a multi-million dollar auto loan scheme.
Ordinarily, prosecutors must file an indictment within 30 days of when the defendant was arrested (Feb. 28). But the DOJ asked US Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris for an extension to May 28 in a joint motion with Janssen, arguing that "the ends of justice served by this continuance outweigh the best interests of the defendant and the public in a speedy indictment."
They also requested that a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 20 be pushed back to May 28 "because both parties need additional time to analyze the discovery and prepare for the preliminary hearing."
Judge Morris approved both requests and ordered a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 28 at 2 p.m. Eastern and for the government to file an indictment by the same date.
Poker Player Who Alleged Kidnapping Now Facing FBI Fraud Investigation
Janssen, four-time World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) ring winner and Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Main Event champion, went missing in November 2023 and claimed to have been held captive as part of a years-spanning extortion scheme.
The FBI alleges that Janssen, a former used car dealer, obtained millions in fraudulent car loans from various financial institutions and directed friends and family members to take out fraudulent loans on his behalf.
Collectively, the group obtained more than $3.93 million from various banks and credit unions.
In the weeks before he went missing, prosecutors say Janssen lost his license to sell cars in Michigan for a five-year period and allegedly deposited $1.4 million in bad checks.
While he was missing, the FBI and other agencies were notified of "several loans which had gone unpaid" taken out by close associates of Janssen. The FBI said multiple friends of Janssen approached law enforcement "to clear their name and express concern they had been defrauded by Janssen, who convinced them to take out multiple vehicle loans."
Janssen had an initial court appearance on Feb. 28 and was released on bail. No charges are currently filed against him.