Posted on: March 30, 2026, 02:29h.
Last updated on: March 30, 2026, 02:29h.
Poker player killed in alleged dispute over $50,000 marijuana debt Rental SUV, phone records, and payments tied suspect to crime Forensic evidence and sealed bags linked suspect to victim’s operationPoker player James “Matt” Lushin was killed over a debt, Indiana prosecutors believe – but not a gambling debt. On March 27, police in the Indianapolis suburb of Westfield arrested Ronald Dewayne Brown Jr., 50, on suspicion of Lushin’s murder.
Booking photo of Ronald Dewayne Brown Jr., who is suspected of murdering Matt Lushin to wipe out a $50K Marijuana debt. (Image: Westfield Police Department)Lushin was a successful real-estate investor for whom poker was a profitable passion. But he also had another lesser-known side hustle that proved deadly, Fox 59 reports.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the suspect and the victim were partners in a marijuana business, and Lushin had fronted Brown roughly $50K worth of product, leaving him heavily in debt.
Deadly Side Hustle
Lushin’s body was found at his home in Westfield on March 12. The poker player had been shot multiple times in the back, according to investigators. On the counter were jars of marijuana that appeared to be in the process of being portioned into vacuum-sealed baggies.
In an outbuilding behind the property, police found an open safe with 11 pounds of the drug in sealed packages, per the affidavit.
Lushin, a father of one, was killed just two weeks after he cashed in a World Series of Poker Circuit event at the Horseshoe Hammond in Northwest Indiana. He had more than $500K in gross tournament earnings, according to the Hendon Mob database, and was a much-loved player on the poker circuit, according to PokerNews.
Suspect Identified
Investigators reviewed security footage from the neighborhood and noticed a black Dodge Durango, with its licensed plates concealed, circling Lushin’s home several times on the day he died.
They discovered the vehicle had been rented at Indianapolis airport and were able to identify Brown as a suspect by video footage from the rental desk.
Meanwhile, analysis of Lushin’s phone revealed that he communicated regularly with Brown via the Signal app, and Brown had sent Lushin $18K through CashApp in the 12 months prior. Those payments stopped on March 5, according to the affidavit.
When they raided Brown’s home, police found vacuum-sealed bags that matched those in Lushin’s safe. They also bore a heat-seal pattern consistent with the sealer seized from Lushin’s home.
A Glock 26 loaded with ammunition consistent with the brand and caliber used to kill Lushin was discovered under a chest of drawers.
Investigators also retrieved a piece of cardboard they believe was used to mask the SUV’s license plate on the day of the murder.
Brown, who refused to talk to investigators during interviews, was charged with one count of murder on Monday.
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