Casino Crime Roundup: Woman Allegedly Fired Shots in Casino Lot

Posted on: February 27, 2024, 07:40h. 

Last updated on: February 27, 2024, 12:10h.

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

A suspect was apprehended after she allegedly discharged gunfire Saturday outside of Kwataqnuk Resort & Casino in Montana. No one was injured.

Kwataqnuk Resort & Casino
Kwataqnuk Resort & Casino, pictured above. A woman was arrested for allegedly firing shots in the parking lot of the Montana casino. (Image: Visit Montana)

Lucy Cluff-Smith got into a dispute, and then fired shots into an unoccupied vehicle at the Missoula, Montana, gaming property, according to the Polson Police Department.

Cluff-Smith then fled the scene before being apprehended. She was charged with assault with a weapon, according to NBC Montana News.

“We’re thankful that no one was hurt during this incident and beyond grateful that any further tragedy was prevented,” Polson Police Chief George Simpson said in a statement.

Joliet Casino Beating Leads to Arrest

A man was arrested last week after allegedly punching and kicking a woman inside a Harrah’s Joliet hotel room earlier this month.

Marquel Jimerson, 28, of Joliet, Illinois, injured the victim in the head and on her body on February 6, Illinois police said. He also stole cash, a debit card, and an ID card from the woman, police added.

Jimerson had instructed the victim to conceal her injuries and advise officers that no physical altercation had taken place,” according to a police report quoted by Patch.

Jimerson was charged with robbery, intimidation, interfering with the reporting of domestic violence, and eight counts of domestic battery.

The incident is the fourth arrest and fourth time Jimerson spent in the Will County Jail in just two years.

Gambler Pleads Guilty in COVID Fraud

A man pleaded guilty Friday to defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administration after improperly getting $455K in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) earmarked for COVID relief.

Mehdi Pazouki, 65, of McLean, Va., who owns Systems Integration Services Inc., an IT consulting company, applied for the federal loans between 2020 and 2021.

Pazouki claimed the money was to be used for his business. But he used it for gambling at casinos, paying personal debts, and buying real estate. Pazouki reportedly spent more than $27K at Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, West Virginia.

When he is sentenced on May 24, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

Arrest for Deadly Accident Near Casino

A man was arrested Friday for December’s hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian near Encore Boston Harbor in Massachusetts.

Jaydon Colon, 22, of Chelsea, Massachusetts, was charged with motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation and other counts.

The December 18 crash took place in Charlestown about a block from the Everett casino. The victim died in the middle of the road.

Colon allegedly fled in his vehicle after driving into the pedestrian.