Casino Crime News Roundup: Rivers Casino Pittsburgh Dealer Allegedly Cheated

Posted on: November 11, 2024, 11:57h. 

Last updated on: November 11, 2024, 12:09h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

A dealer at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh was arrested on Friday for a variety of alleged repeated violations while playing blackjack.

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, pictured above. A dealer at the property was arrested on charges of cheating the casino. (Image: Rivers Casino)

Jamie L. Smith, 33, of Pittsburgh, Pa. is accused of improperly dealing cards some 192 times.

Smith allegedly overpaid casino visitors for winning and losing bets, failed to collect money, and removed chips from the rack of chips, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

The incidents took place on four days between October 26 and November 2.

Smith’s actions caused the casino to lose $21,869, TribLive.com reported. The improper dealing was caught on casino surveillance video for 31 hours and was witnessed by agents, police said.

Smith was charged with theft by unlawful taking, conspiracy, and knowingly manipulating a game of chance. She was released from the Allegheny County Jail and is scheduled to appear in Pittsburgh Municipal Court on November 20.

Her case was handed over to local prosecutors.

Man Died After Casino Lot Shooting

A person died following a shooting that took place on Friday in a parking lot in a West Memphis, Arkansas casino.

The unnamed victim was wounded at the Southland Casino at about 4 a.m and was rushed to Baptist Crittenden Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police are continuing to search for the shooter and there’s been no word on what led to the incident. Details on the victim’s wounds weren’t immediately available.

It’s likely the victim will be given an autopsy, which will confirm his identity and also identify the manner and cause of death.

Casino security guards are cooperating with local police.

Our security team immediately contacted West Memphis police after the isolated incident early this morning in the parking lot outside the casino,” according to Friday’s casino statement.

Casino security guards gave local police surveillance video and other evidence to help them identify the suspect.

Five Charged for Alleged Illegal Gambling

Five suspects appeared in court on Thursday after New York authorities broke up an illegal online gambling operation.

The men either lived in Nassau County or Suffolk County on Long Island.

The arrests followed an investigation into an alleged illegal online sportsbook that began in July 2023 by the office of Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly.

The operation was allegedly run by Anthony Frascone, 75, of East Meadow, NY, and Anthony Pellegrino, 59, of Merrick, NY, prosecutors said. Both were charged with seven counts of first-degree promoting gambling, first-degree criminal usury, 54 counts of second-degree promoting gambling, and fourth-degree conspiracy, Donnelly said.

Both pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to appear in court on December 18. They face between five and 15 years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.

Other defendants include:

  • Philip Carucci, 59, who’s charged with first-degree promoting gambling, first-degree possession of gambling records, and fifth-degree conspiracy.
  • Frank LoNigro, 51, who’s charged with six counts of first-degree promoting gambling, one count of second-degree promoting gambling, and one count of fifth-degree conspiracy.
  • Joseph Pietaro, 57. who’s charged with 50 counts of second-degree promoting gambling and one count of fifth-degree conspiracy. Pietaro is a former New York Police Department officer, Patch reported.

Each of the three suspects pleaded not guilty.

“One bettor alone owed more than $150K in debt to this alleged operation, showing the breadth of this illegal book,” Donnelly said in a statement.