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She is the aspiring artist at the center of the NBA poker game rigging scandal.
And now Daily Mail can reveal that Sophia Wei is friends with hip hop royalty and is close to a slew of celebrities and basketball players.
The diminutive 40-year-old – known as 'Pookie' – posted on Instagram about her years-long friendship with Kevin Hart, saying the comedian was her first commission for her artwork back in 2020.
Wei also poses on the site with Drake, the late rapper Takeoff, Jamaican DJ Vybz Kartel, Mary J. Blige, two of Shaquille O'Neal's sons, Ne-Yo and Indiana Pacers shooting guard Lance Stephenson.
She has long been friends with Chris Gotti and his late brother Irv, the founders of the legendary hip hop label Murder Inc.
And in an embarrassing twist for the NBA, she also showcased her work as an official selection at the All Star Game last year in Indianapolis.
The proximity to celebrities raises questions about whether some of them may have been victims of the fraudulent poker games, which are said to have raked in millions with one mark losing $1.8million.
More than 30 people have been charged in connection with schemes involving alleged illegal sports betting and rigged poker games backed by the Mafia. They include Miami Heat star Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups. Both men have been suspended by the NBA.
Sophie Wei, known as 'Pookie' among her circle of A-list friends, is one of more than 30 people indicted in a sprawling illegal sports betting and rigged poker scheme allegedly backed by Mafia organizations
A photo obtained by Daily Mail showed Pookie at a poker table in 2019 with two named co-conspirators, Saul Becher (behind her) and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups
The self-proclaimed artist has woven herself into circles of hip-hop royalty, celebrities, and basketball stars, as seen in this photo with Drake, for whom she created a portrait of his son, Adonis
The alleged scheme is said to have lured victims into rigged poker games in the Hamptons, Miami, Las Vegas and Manhattan, by giving them the chance to play alongside former pro athletes, including Billups, 49, and former NBA star Damon Jones, 49.
Prosecutors said in court papers that Wei was one of those who allegedly took part in the rigged games where the scammers used elaborate methods like altered card dealing machines and X-ray tables.
In one case she and others cheated some victims out of $50,000 in Las Vegas in 2019 using a rigged shuffling machine, they claim.
In messages filed to the court in New York, Wei expressed concern that Billups and another player had won too many improbable hands and suggested they put up another member of the scam to the table to 'win' a few hands.
Wei, whose family are from Taiwan and Brazil, arrived in the US aged 15 not speaking a word of English but worked her way up in promotions in the hip hop industry. She did not return Daily Mail's requests for comment.
Chris Gotti became an early friend – his Murder Inc. record label was founded in 1999 and its most famous artist was Ja Rule.
Wei wrote in one post that she was 'honored' and 'blessed' to call Chris Gotti her friend.
She called him 'the one person that never given up on me'.
Pookie revealed on Instagram that her longtime friend Kevin Hart was her first art commission in 2020
Her lavish lifestyle is evident from her Instagram, showing her partying with her A-list fans, backstage and big time concerts and throwing a stack of dollar bills at a stripper to celebrate her birthday
Prosecutors revealed that alongside Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (center) and ex-Cleveland Cavaliers star Damon Jones were accused of helping lure victims into the scheme
In her social media posts, Wei shows herself partying backstage at concerts with the likes of the Fugees and hanging out with celebrities like Drake.
But it appears to be her paintings that have allowed her access to A-listers in the music industry, including Hart.
Wei posted about Hart with a painting she did of his mother Nancy, who died of cancer in 2007.
She wrote: 'Here it all started, prior to this piece, I was painting as a hobby, to pass time during quarantine!! My very first commission!!
'Thank you @kevinhart4real for always being an amazing person!'
In May 2021, Wei posed a picture with Shaqir O'Neal, the 22-year-old son of NBA legend Shaquille, in front of one of her paintings that was a replica of photograph Shaqir took with the late Kobe Bryant.
The caption read: 'Warmest congratulations on your graduation and college acceptance! @shaqironeall'
A few months later, she posted a picture of Shareef O'Neal, Shaqir's brother, 25, showing him sitting in a chair in front of Wei's portrait of him.
Among Wei's famous clients is Shaquille O'Neal's son, Shareef O'Neal, 25, who has posed with her in several photos and owns a custom clear skateboard deck she illustrated of him
A May 2021 post showed Wei alongside Shaq's other son Shaqir, 22, standing before one of her paintings, which was a replica of a photograph Shaqir took with the late Kobe Bryant
A few months after the photo with Shaqir, she posted another photo of Shareef, showing him sitting in a chair with a portrait of him by Wei behind him
The caption read: 'Thank u for all the love and support.'
Ne-Yo appeared to have bought two of Wei's works and in October 2021 she posted a picture of him poking his tongue out. The caption read: 'Thank you for all the kindness and the support! A true gentleman'.
Next to the photo of her with Blige, Wei wrote that she 'has been one of my favorite artists foreverrrrr and this moment was so surreal!!'
Wei had drawn Blige a painting of Andre Harrell, the late record executive who signed the singer when she was a teenager.
The post about her art being shown at the All Star game last season has an introduction written by Wei.
It reads: 'I'm Sophia better known as Pookie. I was born in Brazil and grew up in NY.
'I love every single process of creating, the mistakes, the brain fog, being able to learn and discover new things everyday. I look at the world differently now. It's truly a humbling journey.'
Among the other rappers with Wei on her Instagram account are Kodak Black and Jadakiss.
Another of Wei’s paintings was made for Savannah James, the wife of NBA superstar LeBron James, and depicted the couple on their wedding day
Prosecutors claimed in court papers that Wei was involved in rigged poker games, where players used sophisticated tricks like modified card machines and X-ray tables to cheat
Writing in August 2023, Wei alluded to some of the challenges she was facing.
'These past few years been full of trial, tribulations and a lot of challenges, it's been a tough road of self-discovery and growth!
'I am proud of the changes I made, the chances I've taken, and learning to love myself in the process.
'Learn to let go of things that weren't meant for me, and learn to love the things that are.
'Wasn't a comfortable nor an easy path, but def a worthy one.'
Despite her glitzy public image, Wei's landlord painted a very different picture at her apartment in Queens, New York.
According to the New York Post, she trashed the property and left behind a nude self-portrait when she moved out.
Ashley Scharge, the landlord, called Wei a 'pain in the a**' who was 'nasty, bitchy and arrogant'.
Another co-conspirator Anthony Shnayderman, 39, also cozied up to celebrities, such as this photo of him mugging into the camera with Jason Derulo
Shnayderman gained his clout by putting on the VIP section at the Electric Zoo festival which takes place every year in Manhattan
Wei pleaded not guilty to wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges when she appeared before a court in Brooklyn where a judge bailed her for $100,000.
In a brazen move, she wore a sweater to the hearing which said: 'Las Vegas World Series Poker.'
Another of the accused, Anthony Shnayderman, 39, who lives in Brooklyn, also has friends in high places and runs a lifestyle and event company called 'Notoriety'.
He has put on the VIP section at the Electric Zoo festival which takes place every year in Manhattan.
Pictures on his Instagram account show him sitting on a yacht in Miami, riding a camel in the desert and partying with the likes of Cardi B.
Another photo shows him dancing with the raper Tekashi 6ix9ine and posing with Nicki Minaj and Migos, the rap group. One image shows him with 50 Cent and he also poses with Nas in a black and white photo.
Prosecutors claimed that Shnayderman was the principal money launderer behind the operation and public records indicate he has founded dozens of companies.
Shnayderman seen partying with Quavo and the now-deceased Takeoff, members of the now-defunct rap group Migos
One of them is Temakase, a chain of Japanese restaurants in New York recently opening its third outlet in Brooklyn.
Court documents state that Shnayderman used crypto to launder the money: last year he sued NFT marketplace OpenSea for allowing him to buy the infamous 'Bored Ape' NFTs.
But now they are 'worthless', claimed Shnayderman in the lawsuit, which was dismissed two months after being filed.
