Back in August I attended the first annual Game Unicon.  While the convention seemed like a success at the time, it looks like the first one may be the last.  It turns out that the main organizer of Game Unicon, John Keough, is a compulsive liar and a violent person.  Thanks to him, the winners of tournaments have not been paid their prize money, a woman was assaulted and had her car stolen, and Game Universe, the retail store that helped put on the con, may go out of business.

Hit the link to vicariously experience the drama that came in the wake of Game Unicon.

Before Game Unicon commenced, Keough assured Game Universe that there were hundreds of people signed up for the tournaments and that he had secured hundreds of rented televisions.  He also claimed that the hotel that was hosting the convention was completely paid off as were the Portapotties, a drive-in movie, tons of arcade machines, and more.  These claims were all lies, unbeknownst to Game Universe until the day before the convention, when he announced that the deals fell through.

Game Universe, in an understandable panic, decided to spring for the missing necessities, such as truck rentals, televisions, and consoles, since Keough promised that they would be paid back in full at the beginning of the week.  The $20, 000 that these products and services added up to turned out to be the last chunk of money that Game Universe had, since they had been hemorrhaging money due to the poor economy.

Adding insult to injury, Keough admitted a few days into the con that he did not have enough money to pay off the tournament winners.  But, he assured the staff, that he could get the money from his company, Keough Enterprises, within three weeks.  After claiming to have received the money, he cut checks for several of the winners.  Of course, all but one of those checks bounced.  On top of that, the one check that did go through was written for $50 less than what the winner was supposed to receive.

In mid-September, Keough allegedly broke into a Rehoboth woman's home.  Armed with an unlicensed gun, and his face obscured by a white ski mask, he stole her money, proceeded to restrain her by tying her up, and finally stole her car.

Police chased Keough all the way to Pawtucket, RI, where he ditched the stolen Prius and jumped into a river.  He kept cops away by threatening to shoot himself with the same gun he used in the home invasion.  Police finally convinced Keough to give himself up after a multi-hour standoff.

According to Jaime, the Store Manager of Game Universe, Keough later called him, claiming his "family" had given him some money and that he would be able to pay Jamie the $500 he owed for Jamie's concert performance.  Allegedly, this money was not given to him by his family, but was taken by Keough from the Rehoboth victim's home.

On September 22, Keough pleaded not guilty in district court to charges of home invasion, armed kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, masked robbery, and unlicensed possession of a firearm.  He is being held on a hefty $500, 000 bail.

Jamie from Game Universe estimates that Keough owes thousands upon thousands of dollars to various parties, including $49, 000 for the hotel, over $10, 000 in prize money, $20, 000 to Game Universe, and $700 to a LAN center.  He also has yet to pay the Game Unicon staff and the bands that played the two concerts.

It has now come to light that Keough was attempting to bankrupt Game Universe and steal the idea of Game Unicon.  While it was agreed that the convention was a 50-50 venture between Keough Enterprises and Game Universe, Keough was in total control of money, contracts, and payouts, according to Jamie.  Allegedly, Keough told all third parties involved in the convention, such as the hotel and vendors, that Game Unicon was his property and used only the Keough Enterprises name in contracts, excluding Game Universe from everything.  It became clear that Keogh wanted the Game Unicon idea for himself when he offered to buy Game Universe's 50% share for $100, 000.  Knowing that he did not have the money, though, Game Universe luckily declined.

For now, Game Universe is still in rough shape.  The store has very few resources left and have been thinking about selling or closing the store.  Meanwhile, Keough is being held on bail until another court date is reached.

[Boston Herald (9/21), Boston Herald (9/23), ABC6]

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