Anthony Hutchison is looking for ways to stall the case from seeing a courtroom
Anthony Hutchison, a high-stakes poker regular and former professional athlete, is pushing for a new trial following his conviction on multiple federal charges linked to a bribery and fraud scheme involving the Houston Independent School District (HISD). The verdict was handed down last month, finding Hutchison guilty on all 21 counts, including conspiracy and wire fraud.
Hutchison’s attorneys have been granted an extension until August 4, 2025, to file their post-trial motions. His legal team is expected to request a new trial or at least seek acquittal on some of the charges. According to court filings, the defense needs more time to go over the trial records and gather additional information that could support these motions.
The case centers around a long-running scheme in which Hutchison and his co-defendant, former HISD chief operating officer Brian Busby, bribed district employees and manipulated contracts to steer business to Hutchison’s companies. According to the jury, the pair overbilled the district by more than $800,000 annually from 2013 to 2020.
Prosecutors also revealed how Hutchison funneled large sums of money through a company called Bulldog Timber. The checks, marked with HISD project details, were used to pay off significant poker losses. Testimony from poker pro Ayaz Mahmood described Hutchison as a consistent loser in high-stakes games, with some losses topping $300,000. Despite those losses, Mahmood noted that Hutchison always paid his debts.
Some of the checks used to settle these debts were linked to the school district’s budget, raising questions about how district funds were being misused. Bulldog Timber’s owner testified he didn’t recall ever doing business with HISD, further supporting claims that the funds were misclassified.
Hutchison is due for sentencing on July 28, but whether that happens as planned depends on what comes from the pending post-trial motions.
