"Waxtel out of prison?" Topic

I heard a rumor that Dave Waxtel has been released from prison. True? How will it affect his wargames publishing and events -- I think Quantum is the business that he uses to publish a large variety of rules, isn't it? Will they still operate?

Here's the related news item:
link

Dave is a decent guy and loves gaming. I hope this is the end of his personal troubles. As far as Quantum, I think his son ran and helped out in his absence. I guess it remains to be seen.

So he gets a year and a day for avoiding federal income taz on a couple of rental properties…
db

I am sorry to hear about Dave's personal troubles and hope that he can move on and put it all behind him.

I am sorry to hear about Dave's personal troubles and hope that he can move on and put it all behind him.

Amen to all of the above.

I have always liked Dave. I'm sorry to hear of his problems.

Kinda uncool to bring this up on TMP, if you axe me…

I agree with Mister Teeth.
Let's rub it in some more, eh?

I guess you wouldn't want anybody bringing up Jimmy the Gent and the bottle of fish, then?

Allen

With good behavior, which I am sure he had, he should be out by now as you get 15% of your sentence reduced. He also can apply for work release and such so he is probably out by now. I wish him well. I hope he returns to gaming ASAP.

Teeth, it is news, man. It is what it is, unfortunately, that is how people are today and always I guess.

Early release? Let's party!

YouTube link

Allen

I had not heard of this. I am sorry to see that it happened. These sentences make no sense. A local psychologist just pled guilty to defrauding Medicare for over $250,000. He had to pay restitution, but was given a misdemeanor so he could keep his license.

As far as Quantum, I think his son ran and helped out in his absence.

All political commentary aside, that's the part I was interested in. If he was a one man band and went into prison for a year, there's a good change there's nothing there when he gets out, and there goes all the rules sets he publishes.

"Mr. Waxtel's mistakes were not having sufficient political clout, and not using Turbo Tax."

I do not imagine that his having been a co-investor in a NYC S&M club with a capo of the DeCavalcante family (the real-world prototype for "The Sopranos"), or having a brother-in-law (who ran the club) belonging to the family, did much to convince the IRS or the judge that simple accounting errors were made:

(NOTE: not safe for work!)

link

And probably having a history of problems with sales tax audits with the state of New York didn't help, either:

link

(I like the Black Tree Design-style "Hey, I didn't post that!")

Great guy? I can't say: don't know him. And I make no judgements at all about S&M club or gay bar ownership: that's cool. But when you have business interests in common with a crime family--particularly one that was coming apart at the seams at the time--you probably shouldn't be terribly surprised when your books get scrutinized, or expect leniency when you get caught.

You can look up the "Ramrod" and the "Dugout" clubs on your own. Turn the volume down before you go to the Ramrod's site. And you might look up Tony Rotondo and the DeCavalcantes.

Allen

And yes, I've been scratching my head since porfirio posted yesterday morning. And yes, it was the severity of the sentence that raised my hackles (from my time at the IRS) and caused me to go looking. Not trying to hurt anybody's feelings: a few of the folks who have had their rules printed by Quantum I consider friends, or at least friendly acquaintances. But it sure seemed to me like there was more to this story than the 2009 account.

Allen

Holy moley …..

Wowzers! Nothing gets by Allen. Nice sleuthing.

Why do I get the vibe of "I was only playing the piano downstairs!"

Well, he makes the point that there wasn't necessarily an equitable distribution of proceeds from the Vault, compared to what the "controlling interest" investors received. But who are you going to appeal to: Charlie Big Ears? Vito the Blade? I don't think arbitration works quite the same way in that sort of situation.

Allen

Thank you ,Allen. I will make sure I now burn any and all rulesets published by Quantum. I really wasnt that keen on Dave's games anyway….

I would base any rules burning on whether or not you like the game.
It's not as if you could get cooties from it.

Hold on, there! I'm not getting rid of Bill Gray's "Age of Eagles", Sam's original "Grande Armee", "Spearhead" and "Modern Spearhead", "Crossfire", the original "Shako" and "Fields of Glory", "Shako II", or 'Armati", not to mention "Fire and Fury" and the scenario books. No way!!! That would be a big chunk of the rules shelves.

Allen

Sad… goes to show you really don't know people like you probably think you do….

Allen,I never said you had to do anything with your rules.Condottiere,no moral crisis here. Its just that I wont knowingly do business with mafioso,or their friends.I'm just funny that way. I'm not trying to set standards for anyone,just me and my own.

BTW,with the exception of Fire and Fury,I dont any of the rules you mentioned. I do have a copy of They Died for Glory,though,which were given to me by Ed Patrick. I dont think Ed will mind if I torch them,as he didnt want them either.

Yup, bad taste all the way 'round.

Allen, here's some news of a third strip club he manages:

link

(His concern for the strippers is truly touching.)

And here's some more background on why THAT one was in legal trouble:

link

Numerous acts of violence at a strip club in New Jersey? Seems your comparison to the Sopranos just became slightly more apt.

Dave, word of advice, when you get out don't run for the HMGS BOD. You'll be toast in no time.

Oh, I don't know about that ….

I don't go to bars, gay bars, or strip bars, I limit myself to the occasional sand bar at the ocean. However, I don't wish to close them down, and I don't judge the folks who own them, work in them, or frequent them.

I know that bars have oodles of laws, rules, and regulations they must follow. Learning that a bar owner has run afoul of the law is akin to learning that it rains in Seattle. Learning that organized crime is associated with adult entertainment also falls in that category. The world is not Mayberry.

I enjoy the poetry of Ezra Pound, but despise his politics. Dr Shockley has a Nobel Prize for his science, but his ideas on genetics are beyond reprehensible. I also think Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a PLAYER. I could go on with other examples.

My point being that many folks have done great things in one part of their lives, but not others.

Sad… goes to show you really don't know people like you probably think you do….

Indeed. Something the anti/pro WGF/Poor Old Tony zealots might like to take note of.

Whoa, Dave buddy ol' pal….hang in there.

He did a good job for the wargaming community, no matter what else happened.