From the Chicago Suntimes:
Ex-dealer busted in blackjack scam
EAST CHICAGO | Crime ring allegedly used 'fake shuffling' to take nearly $800K
Comments
September 25, 2009
A former northwest Indiana casino dealer has been accused of taking part in a national ring that allegedly stole almost $800,000 from the former Resorts East Chicago Casino in East Chicago, Ind.
Michael Waseleski, who has surrendered, faces charges of conspiracy to commit theft from gambling establishments on Indian lands.
» Click to enlarge image
Ten casinos in five states, including the then-Resorts East Chicago Casino (now Ameristar), allegedly were targeted by a crime ring starting in 2002.
(Post-Tribune file)
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According to an indictment filed in federal court in Southern California, Waseleski became part of a group dubbed the "Tran Organization" that started in 2002 in California and targeted 10 casinos, several of which were on American Indian reservations, in five states.
Other casinos, including Resorts, which is now Ameristar, also allegedly were hit during the spree from 2002 to 2006.
$50,000 in 10 minutes
The original group allegedly devised a way for blackjack and mini-baccarat dealers to look as if they were shuffling cards when they actually weren't. That meant anyone playing and keeping track of cards would always know what order they would come in and then would know when and how much to bet, according to the indictment.
The group bribed and trained dealers, including Waseleski, at the casinos on how to do the fake shuffling and then assign someone to pay attention to the cards, according to the indictment. That person allegedly would use an intricate system of a hidden microphone and cell phone to relay the information to someone at a computer, who would feed the information into a computer program designed to keep track of the cards.
The person keeping track of the cards also would signal to fellow members of the conspiracy to let them know when to bet, prosecutors said. The group was allegedly able to make $50,000 in 10 minutes.
At the same time, though, members would make mistakes and "large sums" would be lost, according to the indictment.
Along with bribing dealers, the group also would bribe pit bosses and any witnesses, and sometimes law enforcement to keep them from telling the casinos, according to the indictment.
Waseleski allegedly traveled to Houston to learn the technique and then helped the group on five dates in the summer of 2005 win $776,250 from the Resorts casino.
In two earlier indictments, conspiracy charges were filed against 30 other members of the so-called Tran Organization.
Post-Tribune
Ex-dealer busted in blackjack scam
EAST CHICAGO | Crime ring allegedly used 'fake shuffling' to take nearly $800K
Comments
September 25, 2009
A former northwest Indiana casino dealer has been accused of taking part in a national ring that allegedly stole almost $800,000 from the former Resorts East Chicago Casino in East Chicago, Ind.
Michael Waseleski, who has surrendered, faces charges of conspiracy to commit theft from gambling establishments on Indian lands.
» Click to enlarge image
Ten casinos in five states, including the then-Resorts East Chicago Casino (now Ameristar), allegedly were targeted by a crime ring starting in 2002.
(Post-Tribune file)
RELATED STORIES
Graffic: How feds say it worked
According to an indictment filed in federal court in Southern California, Waseleski became part of a group dubbed the "Tran Organization" that started in 2002 in California and targeted 10 casinos, several of which were on American Indian reservations, in five states.
Other casinos, including Resorts, which is now Ameristar, also allegedly were hit during the spree from 2002 to 2006.
$50,000 in 10 minutes
The original group allegedly devised a way for blackjack and mini-baccarat dealers to look as if they were shuffling cards when they actually weren't. That meant anyone playing and keeping track of cards would always know what order they would come in and then would know when and how much to bet, according to the indictment.
The group bribed and trained dealers, including Waseleski, at the casinos on how to do the fake shuffling and then assign someone to pay attention to the cards, according to the indictment. That person allegedly would use an intricate system of a hidden microphone and cell phone to relay the information to someone at a computer, who would feed the information into a computer program designed to keep track of the cards.
The person keeping track of the cards also would signal to fellow members of the conspiracy to let them know when to bet, prosecutors said. The group was allegedly able to make $50,000 in 10 minutes.
At the same time, though, members would make mistakes and "large sums" would be lost, according to the indictment.
Along with bribing dealers, the group also would bribe pit bosses and any witnesses, and sometimes law enforcement to keep them from telling the casinos, according to the indictment.
Waseleski allegedly traveled to Houston to learn the technique and then helped the group on five dates in the summer of 2005 win $776,250 from the Resorts casino.
In two earlier indictments, conspiracy charges were filed against 30 other members of the so-called Tran Organization.
Post-Tribune
