SAN DIEGO -- Former Poway defense contractor Brent Wilkes spends his days free on bail and playing poker while appealing the 12-year prison sentence he received more than two years ago for bribing then-Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham.

Wilkes, who was convicted of conspiracy, bribery, money laundering and honest services wire fraud in 2007, has been free on bail pending appeal since February 2008.

Wilkes' appeal got under way Monday, when his lawyer filed the first brief in the case, and it will be months before any ruling is made, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

In a poker blog about his recent win of a World Series of Poker event at Harrah's Rincon Casino in Valley Center, the 56-year-old calls himself a "former executive consultant who is now retired and is spending much of his time writing and playing poker." Wilkes pocketed $10,090 as the champ of the two-day Texas Hold 'Em tournament held at Harrah's. The buy-in was $300.

Wilkes' lawyer, Shereen Charlick, told the Union-Tribune that there was nothing improper about Wilkes' playing -- and winning -- at poker, and federal probation authorities are aware of it.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Forge, who helped prosecute Wilkes, agreed there was nothing wrong with Wilkes playing but said his winnings might be eligible to be seized by the federal government, who has a money judgment against Wilkes for $636,116, the Union-Tribune reported.

Meanwhile, Cunningham is serving an eight-year, four-month federal prison sentence for conspiracy and tax evasion. The 68-year-old admitted to accepting more than $2.4 million in bribes from Wilkes and other defense contractors.

Cunningham, a Republican from Rancho Santa Fe, served in Congress for 14 years before stepping down amid the bribery scandal.