Indiana authorities say a dispute over a $50,000 marijuana debt—not gambling—led to the killing of poker player James “Matt” Lushin.
On March 27, police in Westfield arrested Ronald Dewayne Brown Jr., 50, accusing him of murdering Lushin earlier this month.
A Hidden Side Business Turns Deadly
Lushin, a successful real‑estate investor and respected figure on the poker circuit, was found shot multiple times in the back inside his Westfield home on March 12. While poker was a profitable passion—he had more than $500,000 in tournament earnings and recently cashed in a WSOP Circuit event—investigators say he was also running a marijuana distribution operation.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Lushin had fronted Brown roughly $50,000 worth of marijuana, leaving the suspect deeply indebted. Police believe that debt was the motive for the killing.
Inside the home, officers found jars of marijuana being portioned into vacuum‑sealed bags. In an outbuilding, they discovered an open safe containing 11 pounds of packaged cannabis.
Evidence Trail Leads to a Suspect
Detectives reviewing neighborhood surveillance footage spotted a black Dodge Durango with its license plates covered circling Lushin’s home on the day of the murder. The SUV had been rented at Indianapolis International Airport, and rental‑desk video identified Brown as the driver.
Phone records revealed frequent communication between Lushin and Brown via the encrypted Signal app. Brown had also sent Lushin $18,000 through CashApp over the previous year—payments that abruptly stopped on March 5.
A search of Brown’s residence uncovered vacuum‑sealed bags matching those found in Lushin’s safe, including identical heat‑seal patterns. Investigators also recovered a Glock 26 loaded with ammunition consistent with the rounds used in the killing, as well as a piece of cardboard believed to have been used to obscure the SUV’s license plate.
Charges Filed
Brown declined to speak with investigators. He was formally charged with one count of murder on Monday.
Lushin, a father of one and a well‑liked presence in the poker community, is being remembered by friends and fellow players as a talented competitor and generous personality whose life was cut short by a dangerous side venture.
