Indictments in San Diego accuse 8 of conspiracy to bilk casinos with card-shuffling scam
By APThursday, September 24, 2009
8 charged in San Diego in casino card scam
SAN DIEGO — Eight people have been charged in San Diego as part of a conspiracy that authorities said cheated U.S. and Canadian casinos out of millions of dollars by bribing dealers to rig card games.
The suspects were indicted by a federal grand jury this month and face up to five years in prison if convicted.
The U.S. attorney’s office claims that from 2002 to 2006, they bribed card dealers and supervisors at 11 casinos to perform false shuffles during blackjack and mini-baccarat games that helped players win.
More than 30 other people already have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in the same scheme, which authorities say netted more than $3 million.
Prosecutors contend more than two dozen casinos were victimized in Canada, California, Nevada, Washington state, Indiana, Connecticut, Louisiana and Mississippi.
