Alabama Judge Asks Where is Missing Money as He Sentences Ex-Casino Employee for $192,000 Theft

Posted on: February 29, 2020, 04:21h. 

Last updated on: March 1, 2020, 07:53h.

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

An Alabama federal judge who sentenced a former Wind Creek Montgomery Casino employee to three years in prison for theft-related charges asked the defendant this week where is the still-missing cash stolen from the tribal gaming property.

Alabama US District Court Judge Andrew Brasher sentenced a former Wind Creek casino employee for theft charges at the gaming property. (Image: Alabama Political Reporter)

“Where’s the $200,000,” US District Court Judge Andrew Brasher asked Jory Dumas, 28, of Montgomery — the alleged “ringleader” in the theft — on Thursday.

He [Dumas] organized it in such a way he would never be on video with money or the keys,” Brasher was quoted by the Montgomery Advertiser. “I think he’s greedy and arrogant.”

Dumas and three other defendants allegedly stole $192,800 from Wind Creek Casino in Montgomery during August 2018.

Dumas testified during the trial held last November. Brasher so doubted Dumas’ statements that the judge said, “I’ve never seen someone who was so obviously lying.”

Brasher sentenced Dumas to 37 months in prison for single counts of conspiracy and employee theft from an Indian gaming establishment, the newspaper reported. He could have been sentenced for up to 20 years.

After prison, he will be on supervised release for three years. Dumas and the three other defendants must also repay the missing money to the casino.

Dumas admitted in court he initially kept $50,000 of the ill-gotten money, the Advertiser said. But he later spent it. He also claims he gave a portion of his share of the loot to another defendant, Courtney Staton.

Brasher, a Harvard law school graduate, was nominated to the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, based in Atlanta, by President Donald Trump. Earlier this month, the US Senate approved Brasher’s appointment to the appeals court.

Dumas Accused of Being Ringleader

In the casino crime, prosecutors claim Dumas was the “ringleader” of the scheme, the Advertiser reported. Dumas apologized for his role, the report added.

“I’m not a bad person, I just made a terrible decision. I put my family in this situation,” Dumas was quoted by the newspaper. “I apologize for my actions. … I wish I had something to bargain with, but I don’t.”

Besides Staton, Timothy Pettiway and Tomika Thomas are the other defendants. Staton and Thomas were both placed on probation after pleading guilty.

Pettiway was given a 33-month sentence in prison. He also pleaded guilty to the crime. Pettiway is Dumas’ uncle.

Elaborate Wind Creek Casino Plot

According to court testimony and documents, Staton, an ex-kiosk attendant, took the keys to several cash kiosks on the gaming floor. Pettiway then got the keys and removed cash boxes from the kiosks.

Next, Pettiway carried the cash boxes into a lavatory where Dumas allegedly took money from the box. Thomas was a lookout as the crime unfolded.

The defendants allegedly tried to avoid being photographed by the casino’s security cameras, but during their criminal trials it was revealed that the cameras captured several scenes related to the theft.

Earlier, Dumas was found not guilty on a theft count which related to the stealing of $30,000 from a casino in 2016, the Advertiser said. Dumas was fired by the casino in 2017 for theft allegations.

The Wind Creek casino is operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.