I’m not one to provide a counterpoint to the delight that is Massively Uplifting, but there are also times when video gaming news gets freaking weird, you guys. In this one-and-done edition of Massively Confusing and Depressing (working title), we’ve got a US Congressman who stole campaign funds to buy Steam games and other lavish purchases and a guy who is allegedly using his PS4’s social tools to sell cocaine.
First, the Congressman: U.S. Representative Duncan D. Hunter (R-CA) pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to converting over $150k in campaign funds between 2010 and 2016 for personal purchases and over 30 illegal transactions. Among these purchases were $1,302 worth of Steam games, various personal trips, vacations, and dinners, and even plane tickets for the family pet rabbits Eggburt and Cadbury, all while the family was in debt. Hunter will be sentenced on March 17th.
As for the PS4 coke guy, the FBI filed a search warrant for PSN data of one Curtis “Speedola20” Alexander, who allegedly has been using his PS4 and its voice chat functions during multiplayer games to sell cocaine at $34k per kilo. According to the report, a sting was set up with Alexander and a confidential informant who was sold 100 grams during an unnamed multiplayer game. The warrant has asked Sony for “stored or preserved copies of emails, chats, or other messages sent to and from [Alexander], drafts of such, and the source destination addresses associated with each, the date and time at which each was sent, and the size and length of each.”
Video games.
