Burton Ritchie

Last updated

Burton Ritchie is a convicted drug dealer and money launderer, currently[ when? ] serving 20 years in federal prison. [1]

Contents

Life and career

Ritchie was born in Fairhope, Alabama. He became involved with politics in 1994 when he ran against sitting councilman Doug Profitt, who published an anti-gay editorial in a newspaper. [2]

Burton started playing poker in 2001, winning his first tournament at the Tom McEvoy Poker Championship in Los Angeles. [3] He was briefly involved with Pokerspot when he made a buyout offer, after putting together a consortium of investors, [4] that would have paid off Pokerspot's player debt. [5] He has cashed-in in the World Series of Poker every year since 2011. [6]

In 2012, Burton entered into the motion picture industry becoming the CEO and Co-Founder of Heretic Films, [7] a film production company based in the mountain resort town of Park City, Utah. [8] He is an Ambassador Council Member of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media [9] which works towards the need to dramatically improve gender balance, reduce stereotyping and creating diverse female characters in film and theatre. He is also a member of the Park City Film Series Board. [10]

Burton has produced multiple film projects including: Copenhagen (2014), starring Gethin Anthony ( Game of Thrones ), which premiered at the 2014 Slamdance Film Festival, winning the Audience Award for Narrative Feature; [11] Low Down (2014), starring John Hawkes, Elle Fanning, Glenn Close, Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Peter Dinklage ( Game of Thrones ), which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival winning the Sundance U.S. Dramatic Cinematography Award; [12] Big Significant Things (2014), which premiered at the 2014 SXSW (South by Southwest Festival) starring Harry Lloyd ( Game of Thrones ); [13] Welcome to Me (2014) starring Kristen Wiig, also produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay; [14] Eating Animals (2014) narrated by Natalie Portman; [15] and the Kevin Pollak directorial debut, Misery Loves Comedy, which was a 2015 Sundance Special Event [16] and acquired by Tribeca Film. [17]

On October 6, 2015, Ritchie was arrested on federal drug charges for manufacturing and distributing "Spice." [18] [19] On January 23, 2017. Ritchie was found guilty of multiple Federal charges related to the distribution and sale of the drug "spice". He is awaiting sentencing and faces 79 years in Federal prison.[ citation needed ]

On July 3, 2019, (Charles) Burton Ritchie and co-founder of Heretic Films, Benjamin Gelecki, were found guilty of 24 federal charges related to selling synthetic drugs in Nevada. The pair was held responsible for selling 4,000 pounds, which grossed $1.6 million, of Spice/K2 within a 24-day period in 2012. Sentencing is scheduled for January 10, 2020, in federal court in Las Vegas, Nevada. [20] [ needs update ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winona Ryder</span> American actress (born 1971)

Winona Laura Horowitz, known professionally as Winona Ryder, is an American actress. Having come to attention with quirkier roles in the initial phase of her career, she achieved fame and critical success with her more diverse performances in various genres throughout the 1990s. Ryder's many accolades include a Golden Globe Award, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, a BAFTA, and a Grammy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Costner</span> American actor and filmmaker (born 1955)

Kevin Michael Costner is an American actor, producer, and director. He has received various accolades, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melange (fictional drug)</span> Fictional drug central to the Dune series by Frank Herbert

Melange, often referred to as "the spice", is the fictional psychedelic drug central to the Dune series of science fiction novels by Frank Herbert and derivative works.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geena Davis</span> American actor and producer (born 1956)

Virginia Elizabeth "Geena" Davis is an American actor, activist, fashion model, and producer. She is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Pollak</span> American actor, comedian (born 1957)

Kevin Elliot Pollak is an American actor, comedian, impressionist and podcast host. He has appeared in over 80 films; his roles include Sam Weinberg in Rob Reiner's legal film A Few Good Men, Jacob Goldman in Grumpy Old Men and its sequel Grumpier Old Men; Todd Hockney in The Usual Suspects, Phillip Green in Martin Scorsese's Casino, and Bobby Chicago in End of Days.

Jackpot or Jackpot! may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Matusow</span> American poker player

Michael Matusow is an American professional poker player residing in Henderson, Nevada. Matusow's nickname of "The Mouth" reflects his reputation for trash-talking at the poker table.

<i>Fletch</i> (film) 1985 American neo-noir comedy thriller film by Michael Ritchie

Fletch is a 1985 American comedy thriller film directed by Michael Ritchie and written by Andrew Bergman. Based on Gregory Mcdonald's popular Fletch novels, the film stars Chevy Chase as the eponymous character. It co-stars Tim Matheson, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Geena Davis and Joe Don Baker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walton Goggins</span> American actor (born 1971)

Walton Sanders Goggins Jr. is an American actor. He has starred in various television series, including The Shield (2002–2008), Justified (2010–2015) and Justified: City Primeval (2023), Vice Principals (2016–2017), The Righteous Gemstones (2019–present), Invincible (2021–present), and Fallout (2024).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dutch Boyd</span> American poker player (born 1980)

Russell Aaron Boyd, commonly known as Dutch Boyd, is an American professional poker player from Culver City, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanessa Rousso</span> American poker player (born 1983)

Vanessa Ashley Rousso is an American professional poker player, attorney, DJ, and television personality. Rousso was a member of Team PokerStars from 2006 to 2015, with the online name Lady Maverick, and was a spokesman for GoDaddy.com from 2009 to 2013. She has earned money as a professional poker player since 2005.

Gregory Segal, sometimes credited as Greg Segal, is an independent writer/director, movie producer and entertainment attorney. He most recently directed a thriller shot in the Philippines Manila Bulletin Article, from his own script, entitled "The Expat," Manila Standard Article, , starring Lev Gorn, famed pinoy character actor Mon Confiado, Leo Martinez, and FHM Cover Model and actress/dancer Lovely Abella. He also co-wrote and directed the short film, "Chasing Lights," which stars Alexis Navarro and Matthias Rhoads.

Jeremy Osbern is an American director and director of photography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SweeTango</span> Cultivated apple

SweeTango is the brand name of the cultivated apple 'Minneiska'. It is a cross between the 'Honeycrisp' and the Zestar Apple belonging to the University of Minnesota. The apple is controlled and regulated for marketing, allowing only exclusive territories for growing. It has a sweet-tart taste that some food writers have described as something between brown sugar and spiced apple cider.

<i>Snow on tha Bluff</i> 2011 film directed by Damon Russell

Snow on tha Bluff is a 2012 American found footage-style drama film directed by Damon Russell. It stars Curtis Snow, a real-life Atlanta "robbery boy" and drug dealer, playing a fictionalized version of himself, as he gets into various dangerous and criminal situations. The film's title refers to protagonist Snow and to Atlanta's neighborhood The Bluff, which is infamous for crime and drug dealing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pensacola Comic Convention</span> Pensacola, Florida gaming, comics, paranormal, and anime convention

Pensacola Comic Convention was founded in the Fall of 2010 by psychic medium Ericka Boussarhane. The convention is for fans of science fiction, horror, fantasy, gaming, anime, costuming, fan films, and indie films held annually in Pensacola, Florida. The event is owned by Pensacola Comic Convention LLC. The event offers celebrity meet and greets, discussion panels, workshops, film screenings, film festivals, demonstrations, costume contests, and competitions. The event also offers investigations at local historic haunted locations such as the Pensacola Victorian Inn, The Pensacola Light House, the Pensacola Gray House, and the Pensacola Little Theater. A portion of the proceeds of the event are donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities. The convention is the first female African American owed comic convention in the USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Bilzerian</span> American poker player and social media influencer (born 1980)

Daniel Brandon Bilzerian is an American poker player, businessman, and social media influencer.

Heretic Films is an American film production company, based in the mountain resort town of Park City, Utah. Heretic is known for working with artists, both new and established, on their passion projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Sundance Film Festival</span>

The 2015 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 22 to February 1, 2015. What Happened, Miss Simone?, a biographical documentary film about American singer Nina Simone, opened the festival. Comedy-drama film Grandma, directed by Paul Weitz, served as the closing night film.

References

  1. ↑ Robinson, Kevin (July 5, 2019). "Pensacola area businessmen Ritchie, Galecki convicted in Nevada 'spice' case". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Ocala Star-Banner - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  3. ↑ "Limit Hold'em Results & Report". Archived from the original on February 1, 2014.
  4. ↑ Solotaroff, Ivan (June 16, 2005). "Poker's New World Order". Rolling Stone, pp. 61-68.
  5. ↑ Dutch Boyd
  6. ↑ "Charles Burton Ritchie's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  7. ↑ Moon, Troy (June 1, 2014). "Local filmmakers making mark". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  8. ↑ "HERETIC FILMS Trademark of Heretic Films Management Serial Number: 86317978 :: Trademarkia Trademarks". trademark.trademarkia.com.
  9. ↑ "About Us".
  10. ↑ "Park City Film Series: Burton Ritchie". Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Slamdance Winners Announced". The Hollywood Reporter. January 23, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Low Down: filmguide.sundance.org". Archived from the original on April 1, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  13. ↑ Kroll, Justin (February 6, 2014). "Heretic Films Taps Sarah Scougal as VP of Development and Production".
  14. ↑ McNary, Dave (September 30, 2014). "Gregory Segal Heading Indie Heretic Films".
  15. ↑ Yamato, Jen (August 8, 2014). "Heretic Boards Jonathan Safran Foer Docu 'Eating Animals'".
  16. ↑ "misery-loves-comedy". www.sundance.org.
  17. ↑ "Sundance: Kevin Pollak's Documentary 'Misery Loves Comedy' Sold to Tribeca Film". January 23, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Local filmmakers busted for making and selling 'spice' - WEAR - Pensacola Top Stories - ABC". Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  19. ↑ Robinson, Kevin. "Federal indictment for Pensacon CEO". Pensacola News Journal.
  20. ↑ Robinson, Kevin. "Pensacola area businessmen Ritchie, Galecki convicted in Nevada 'spice' case". Pensacola News Journal.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.