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More Indictments in Casino Cheating Case

A federal grand jury in San Diego indicted another eight defendants for conspiracy Sept. 18 on a widespread card cheating case that defrauded 11 American Indian-owned casinos around the country, including the Barona Valley Ranch Casino and Resort in Lakeside, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The latest indictment was the third in the case, with earlier indictments in 2007 and 2008, charging a total of 30 defendants.

The indictment charges seven defendants with a single count of conspiracy on several federal offenses, and a single count of travel in interstate and foreign commerce in aid of racketeering.

One defendant, Jimmy Ha, was charged in a superseding indictment in an earlier indictment of Sept. 1 of conspiracy.

According to the indictment, from March 2002 to July 2006, the defendants allegedly formed and participated in a group conspiracy known as the Tran organization to cooperatively cheat at several card games such as blackjack. The conspirators bribed the card dealers to perform false shuffles of cards, allowing slugs of unshuffled cards.

That permitted other conspirators to determine which cards would be appearing in the deal, and favorable odds for winning hands, the indictment states.

The conspirators won thousands of dollars during the games, according to the indictments.

To date, 31 defendants pleaded guilty to charges relating to the casino cheating conspiracy, according to the Justice Department.

Other local casinos named in the earlier indictments include Sycuan Casino in El Cajon and the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula.

, Mike Allen

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