Poker Writer
A man was arrested for allegedly orchestrating an extortion scheme against the former CEO of Wynn Resorts, Steve Wynn.
Michael Loizias, 43, sent threatening emails and packages demanding $1 million. Wynn’s assistant met with authorities about the extortion scheme on Jan. 30 after Wynn himself reported it.
Loizias, who lives in Las Vegas, was arrested after sending the threats across the country to Wynn, who lives in Florida. His threats claimed that Wynn owed unpaid taxes linked to the sale of Wynn stock. The email extortion goes back to 2023, when Loizias sent as many as 79 emails making threats.
More concerning than the emails were the packages that Loizias sent. Wynn received two packages on Jan. 30, one of which linked back to Loizias’ home address. One package sent via USPS contained a threatening message:
I am not a nice man. I am not your friend. This situation is going to get very bad for you quickly. I know where you live.
The letters claimed that Wynn would be receiving a visit if the monetary demands were not met soon. They came with wire transfer instructions for the money.
The police attempted to contact Loizias by phone unsuccessfully before going to his residence to make the arrest. Authorities were able to track him since his actual phone number was in one of the threatening letters. He is being held on $50,00 bond at the detention center in West Palm Beach.
Why Was Wynn Targeted?
Wynn is one of the most recognizable and prominent figures in the casino industry, even after resigning from his financial chair position in 2018 over sexual misconduct allegations. The 84-year-old still has a net worth estimated in the billions, though, making him a prime target for financially motivated crime.
Wynn has also been involved in political and global affairs in recent years. He contributed to the presidential campaign of Donald Trump in 2020. At one point in 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice sued to compel Wynn to register as a foreign agent. It charged that he lobbied on behalf of China.
