Atlantic City Police Bust WWE’s Sonya Deville for Gun Possession Outside Borgata Casino

Posted on: March 1, 2023, 07:46h. 

Last updated on: March 2, 2023, 01:20h.

Corey Levitan Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Las Vegas Myths.

WWE superstar Sonya Deville was arrested last month at the Borgata in Atlantic City. That’s after a gun was found inside the wrestler’s vehicle by the casino valet who parked it. The story was broken on Wednesday by TMZ, which discovered the court documents.

Sonya Deville
WWE superstar Sonya Deville (real name Daria Berenato) was reportedly arrested last month for gun possession outside the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City. (Image: wrestlinginc.com)

According to a statement released Wednesday, Atlantic City police arrested Deville — whose real name is Daria Berenato — on February 19 without incident. When they arrived on the scene, according to the police statement, she produced a permit for possessing the handgun. But it was not valid in New Jersey.

Deville, 29, reportedly purchased the weapon for personal protection after a 24-year-old man allegedly attempted to kidnap her during a 2020 home break-in, TMZ reported, citing sources. The gun is registered in Florida, Deville’s home state.

Deville was released on a summons after being charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. She’s due back in court later this month.

Berenato was in AC celebrating her recent engagement to fitness model Toni Cassano, according to an unnamed WWE spokesperson quoted by Wrestling Inc. The valet attendant searched her car in an attempt to verify its owner and found the gun in its glove box.

LGBTQIA+ Icon

Berenato became the first openly gay female wrestler in the WWE when she came out in an unplanned moment on Season 6 of the USA Network’s “WWE Tough Enough” reality TV competition series in 2015.

“With a background in MMA, Deville uses her knowledge of striking and submission holds to ground and pound her opposition into defeat,” reads her bio on the WWE website. “Whether Deville is competing inside the cage or the squared circle, she looks right at home as she fires off lightning-quick combinations that leave her foes wondering what just hit them.”

Deville last appeared on TV during the February 10 edition of “WWE SmackDown,” where she wrestled in a tag match alongside Chelsea Green against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. Since then, Berenato has wrestled in several live matches, including some that would have occurred after her arrest.

Madison Square Match

While Deville hasn’t released any statement on the incident, her upcoming match with Charlotte Flair is apparently still a go for Madison Square Garden on March 12.

The New York City venue tweeted the match announcement on Wednesday.