Police Nab Two Bronx Roulette Cheats at Encore Boston Harbor’s Opening Night

Posted on: June 24, 2019, 07:12h. 

Last updated on: June 24, 2019, 07:12h.

Todd Shriber @etfgodfather Read More
Expertise: Financial, Gaming Business, Mergers and Acquisitions.

Two New York men were arrested on charges of cheating and conspiracy at the opening of Wynn Resorts’ much anticipated Encore Boston Harbor on Sunday, June 23.

Encore Boston Harbor where two men were caught cheating at roulette on opening night. (Image: Boston 25 News)

The men, 27-year-old Jankelli S. Volquez and 66-year-old Hector Hernandez, both of the Bronx in New York City, were among four arrested on the first night of business for Wynn’s New England property.

Another person was arrested for disorderly conduct while another was busted for trespassing, according to a statement provided to Casino.org by the Massachusetts State Police. Authorities also issued a summons to a patron on suspected possession of heroin.

Hernandez and Volquez were playing roulette and were believed to be acting together to defraud Encore Boston Harbor.

Two men were charged with cheating and conspiracy after being observed cheating at a roulette table,” according to the Massachusetts State Police. “They were acting in concert.”

A copy of the arrest report was not immediately available. In an email to Casino.org, Wynn Resorts said, “We do not have a statement as we do not disclose information about our guests.”

Always Bet On…Not Cheating At Roulette

Encore Boston Harbor, expected by many to be the crown jewel of New England casinos, has 3,100 slot machines, 144 table games and a high-stakes poker area with nearly 90 tables. The casino’s website does not feature a breakdown of how many roulette tables it offers.

Authorities did not provide information on the stakes for the table Hernandez and Volquez allegedly cheated at. Details about what style of the popular game – American or European – also were not made available.

European roulette features a single zero and 37 slots for the ball to land in while the American counterpart has 38 slots, also called “divisions,” for the ball to find a home in after a spin. The 38 divisions in American roulette come by way of a double zero.

While Hernandez and Volquez tried to hustle the Encore Boston Harbor, reports have emerged that shady casinos in the Dominican Republic have long used a game called “progressive roulette” to cheat unsuspecting customers out of money.

Inside The Law

Massachusetts defines a conspiracy as “an agreement of two or more people to do something that is unlawful.” The conspiracy’s success is immaterial in the commonwealth.

In that state, prosecutors angling for a guilty verdict must prove three factors beyond a reasonable doubt: “1) That the defendant joined in an agreement or plan with one or more other persons 2) That the purpose of the agreement was to do something unlawful and 3) That the defendant joined the conspiracy knowing of the unlawful plan and intending to help carry it out,” according to state law.

Felony conspiracy charges in the Bay State carry potentially stiff sentences.

“If the purpose of the conspiracy or any of the means for achieving the purpose of the conspiracy is a felony punishable by death or imprisonment for life, by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than twenty years or in jail for not more than two and one half years, or by both such fine and imprisonment,” according to the Massachusetts legislature.

Hernandez and Volquez certainly aren’t looking at death or life sentences, but could face some jail time and fines if found guilty of attempting to defraud Wynn Resorts and Encore Boston Harbor.