The convicted fraudster who made a small fortune selling his video game firm to Grand Theft Auto's parent company is getting another reprieve from sentencing, after his attorneys said he is in a medically induced coma.
Robert Alexander, 53, pleaded guilty in January 2020 to scamming $1.3 million from investors in his online gaming company Kizzang, but his sentencing has been repeatedly delayed over health issues.
In a status conference call on Monday, Alexander's attorneys told US District Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr that he would be unable to participate in a planned sentencing hearing on November 29, because he is currently in a coma.
'He is in an induced coma. There was at one point — the hospital was recommending that the family members converge upon the hospital to talk about last rites,' Alexander's personal attorney Peter Gleason said during the conference call, according to a transcript obtained by DailyMail.com.
'Mr. Alexander is not a healthy individual. He's had two bouts of cancer. He's been electrocuted in the past. He's an unhealthy guy,' added Gleason.
Robert Alexander (second from left in 2016) is getting another reprieve from sentencing in his federal fraud case, after his attorneys said he is in a medically induced coma
Alexander (left) is seen in 2005 with Kobe Bryant and Las Vegas casino exec Scott Sibella, who once appeared on Undercover Boss
In a letter to the court earlier this month, Alexander's criminal attorney Brian A. Jacobs wrote that his client had experienced complications from eye surgery, including a corneal transplant, in May, and is scheduled to have another eye operation in December.
In a phone interview, Gleason declined to elaborate on his client's health issues, but said: 'Mr. Alexander's current medical situation has a lot to do with the stress that he was under.'
Gleason said that Alexander is 'not being treated equally under the law' and said there were many legally dubious aspects to his federal criminal case.
'He was railroaded by an FBI agent and an FBI informant, while represented by counsel, giving him legal advice. That's why he's in the hospital. He's under a tremendous amount of stress,' said Gleason.
Gleason repeated allegations, previously raised in court filings, that Kizzang investor Sherry Pryor Witter, the wife of Wall Street legend Dean Witter's grandson, should have been charged alongside Alexander for re-selling her shares in the company after accusing him of fraud.
Witter did not immediately respond to request for comment on Friday, but she has previously denied wrongdoing and said she was merely a victim of Alexander's fraud.
Sherry Pryor Witter is seen with her husband Michael Witter, the grandson of Wall Street legend Dean Witter. Sherry was a victim in the Kizzang case -- though Alexander's attorneys have argued that she should have been charged for re-selling her shares
Kizzang founder Robert Alexander is seen with NBA legend Charles Oakley in 2016. Alexander later pleaded guilty to bilking $1.3 million from investors in his online gambling platform
At Monday's status conference, Judge Carter agreed to delay a November 29 Fatico hearing, at which both sides will present evidence related to Alexander's sentencing, until February 13.
Alexander was originally scheduled to be sentenced on May 7, 2020, but pandemic delays, and then numerous postponements due to his health issues, have repeatedly pushed back sentencing.
Alexander faces up to 40 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to securities fraud and wire fraud in connection with Kizzang investors, though federal sentencing guidelines will likely recommend a much lesser sentence.
Prosecutors say that he made false claims, including about his own background, to solicit investments in Kizzang, and then blew $1.3 million of the investor funds on his personal expenses.
Alexander used the investor funds to pay off personal credit cards, pay for gambling excursions at casinos, and pay off a luxury car purchased for a family member, prosecutors said.
In November 2021, while his sentencing was still pending, Alexander got into a dispute with another high-roller at Resorts World Las Vegas (seen above)
A well known high-roller in Las Vegas, Alexander initially made his fortune as an executive at a company that was acquired by Take-Two Interactive, the maker of the widely popular Grand Theft Auto videogame series.
Alexander boasted of his role in the success of the GTA franchise, even claiming that he had a hand in creating the game, but in fact was only involved in its 'distribution and sale' according to an FBI affidavit.
In November 2021, while his sentencing was still pending, Alexander got into a dispute with another high-roller at Resorts World Las Vegas, as later described in court filings.
Surveillance video from Resorts World shows Alexander zipping around the casino on a mobility scooter and getting in a heated exchange with RJ Cipriani, a high-stakes professional blackjack player.
Cipriani later sued Resorts World and the casino's recently fired president Scott Sibella over the incident. They have said his claim lacks merit and asked a judge to dismiss the suit.
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