Ex General Manager at Cypress Bayou Casino issues statement following guilty plea

CHARENTON, La. (KLFY) Former Cypress Bayou Casino General Manager Anthony Patrone pled guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of unauthorized use of a moveable. (Less than $500)

Anthony Patrone ( KLFY)

Patrone was arrested in February, 2016 and placed on suspension following an internal investigation conducted by the Chitimacha Tribe as well as an investigation conducted by State Police.

The investigation began when LSP’s Gaming Unit received a complaint from the Chitimacha Tribe in January 2016 that a crime may have been committed by senior management at Cypress Bayou Casino.

He was fired by the Casino Wednesday following the guilty plea.

Through his attorney, Patrone issued the following statement:

“Despite erroneous and even false statements printed or aired by certain news agencies and attributed to the Louisiana State Police, Anthony Patrone has resolved outstanding charges filed by the State Police in St. Mary Parish.

These charges have been under further investigation for seven months, and they have been resolved by a plea to a misdemeanor, a $250 fine, one day’s probation, and without any admission of guilt to the original charges.

This resolution comes after Mr. Patrone’s led the Cypress Bayou Casino to two and a half years of record setting profits, a magnificent physical renovation, and a real mentor-ship program for Tribal members. The issue arose after the elected Chairman of the Tribe instructed Mr. Patrone to make a bonus payment for time that the Chairman actually did work at the Casino in 2015 prior to his election as Chairman.  Even though Mr. Patrone had submitted the proposed bonus payment, in writing, to the Tribal Council through the Tribal CFO for approval, the Chairman was paid a bonus for his previous work at the Casino before formal approval was granted by the Tribal Council.

Despite what has been reported in error by some news agencies, and despite the misdemeanor plea leading to a $250 fine and one day’s probation, we absolutely maintain that Mr. Patrone did not commit any of the crimes stated in the charges brought by the State Police, and which were dismissed today by the District Attorney’s Office. When all is said and done, this was an internal administrative matter that never should have been raised in a criminal setting.

Mr. Patrone said today, “In thirty years of high level positions with top gaming companies, my time at Cypress Bayou Casino was among my best professional experiences.  The successes we gained here were extraordinary and will remain with the Chitimacha Tribe for many years.  I regret taking the Chairman and the elected head of the Tribal government at his word, and  I was shocked to learn that officials in the Tribal government thought there might be an issue with the payment before the payment was made but did not notify me or anyone else at the Casino.   However, in spite of this single incident, I remain proud of the many accomplishments we made and I thank the entire Chitimacha Tribal Council for recruiting me to the Reservation and having the confidence to allow me to proceed with such ambitious plans.”

http://klfy.com/2016/10/05/ex-general-manager-at-cypress-bayou-casino-issues-statement-following-guilty-plea/

• Two people accused of cheating at casinos

• NEWS NOW
  • DeRidder passes amended ordinance 

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  By Staff Reports

  
  Posted Jul. 30, 2015 at 3:09 PM 
  
  
  

  LAKE CHARLES — Two Houston residents were arrested by Louisiana State Police Gaming Troopers and accused of cheating in separate incidents at two different Lake Charles area casinos, according to LSP.

  Long B. Nguyen, 44, was accused of cheating during a game of Mini-Baccarat on July 25 at a Lake Charles area casino.

  Nguyen was located in the casino and interviewed by troopers from the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division, after which he was arrested "for cheating and swindling," the release states.

  Another incident allegedly occurred on July 27, according to police, when  Thu T. Vo, 41, was playing Mini-Baccarat at another Lake Charles area casino.

  Vo was also located by authorities within the casino, interviewed and arrested "for cheating and swindling," police said.

  Both Nguyen and Vo were booked into the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center.

  If convicted, each faces up to five years in prison and/or up to a $2,000 fine.

  http://www.beauregarddailynews.net/article/20150730/NEWS/150739975
  
  

Man steals weapons from Good Samaritan to feed gambling habit

Sheriff: Man steals weapons from Good Samaritan to feed gambling habit

Posted: Jan 16, 2015 5:14 PM ESTUpdated: Jan 16, 2015 5:14 PM EST

By Amber Stegall

 

Jeremy Morales (Source: St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office)

 

ST. LANDRY PARISH, LA (WAFB) -

A homeless man was arrested for stealing firearms and compound bows worth more than $4,000 from a man who gave him a place to stay.

 

Deputies with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office arrested 26-year-old Jeremy Morales of Ville Platte, on charges of felony theft and theft of firearms.

 

The victim allowed Morales to stay at his home, because Morales had fallen on hard times and did not have a place to stay. The good Samaritan allowed Morales to stay even when he was away working.

 

The victim returned home from a week off-shore to find six firearms and two compound bows were missing. When the victim confronted Morales, he admitted he had a gambling addiction and pawned the items to get gambling money.

 

Deputies were called to the home and Morales was arrested. He is being held in the St. Landry Parish Jail on a $27,500 bond.

 

Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz stated… "All of us have faith in the character of man and hope that when we extend trust to a stranger we will not be taken advantage of. Sometimes things go the wrong way and we have to deal with the results. In this case, the victim showed great kindness, then went on to demonstrate restraint when he discovered that his trust had been betrayed. He called us, rather than lashing out at Jeremy Morales. I have been advised that Morales' may have a gambling addiction.

 

That's no excuse to steal, but in our jail, he will have the opportunity to take advantage of our anti-addiction programs. Perhaps we can help him turn his life around. In the meantime, he's paying for his crime."

 

 

 

http://www.wafb.com/story/27871883/sheriff-man-steals-weapons-from-good-samaritan-to-feed-gambling-habit

 

 

State worker steal $1 million to fund gambling

Posted: Friday, 10 October 2014

 

State worker admits still [sic] million to fund gambling

WWL.com Reporting

A former Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals worker pleaded guilty to stealing over $1 million dollars from the state to fund her gambling addiction.

State Inspector General Stephen Street says 47-year-old Deborah Loper was accused of misappropriating Medicaid over payments.

"And she diverted over a million dollars worth of those into an account that she personally controlled," said Street. "Then she essentially stole the money."

Under terms of Loper's plea agreement, she'll serve five years in prison, five years probation and she must pay $1,018,423 dollars to the state in restitution. Street says Loper had been entrusted to manage a bank account for DHH.

"It would be fair to say that her position was to protect tax payer dollars rather than take them for her own personal use," said Street.

Street says they determined through an investigation, when Loper was arrested in 2013, that the money had been all gambled away.

"Some of the area casinos had been visited and this is all just extremely unfortunate," Street said.

http://www.wwl.com/State-worker-admits-stealing-1-million-to-fund-gam/20086961

Former DHH official faces ethics charge

Former DHH official faces ethics charge

Marsha Shuler

mshuler@theadvocate.com

June 28, 2014

 

The Louisiana Board of Ethics has filed charges against a former state health agency accountant arrested for alleged theft of $1 million to allegedly feed her gambling addiction.

The charges against Deborah Crowder Loper were made public on the board’s website Friday. No public action was taken in advance of the charges being filed.

Loper faces an Aug. 5 trial date in 19th Judicial District Court on theft, malfeasance in office and money laundering charges. She was arrested last June, accused of diverting the funds over a period of six years.

The Ethics Board said Loper violated state ethics law by receiving just over $1 million in DHH funds “for her personal use, at a time in which she was not duly entitled, for the performance of the duties and responsibilities of her public job.”

Under state ethics law, no public servant shall receive anything of economic value, other than compensation and benefits from the governmental entity to which she is duly entitled, for the performance of the duties and responsibilities of her office or position.

Ethics Administrator Kathleen Allen said the ethics board “felt she may have violated criminal provisions but also violated ethics provisions. It’s a different statute, criminal and civil.”

Allen said the ethics charge could bring a $10,000 fine per violation as well as a penalty of up to one-and-a-half times “the amount she received to her economic benefit.”

Advertisement:Replay Ad

 

The case has been forwarded to the Ethics Adjudicatory Board for hearing.

Loper was the manager of the Department of Health and Hospital’s financial management section, which was responsible for depositing DHH revenue, reconciling bank statements and completing federal and state financial reports.

DHH hosted the 2009 annual National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers conference with an account set up at Capitol One Bank. Only Loper and now DHH Undersecretary Jeff Reynolds were authorized on the bank account. Reynolds directed her to close the account at the conference’s end, according to the ethics charges.

“Ms. Loper did not close the NASHSFO account and diverted DHH funds into the account for her personal use,” the ethics board said. “Ms. Loper diverted over 167 checks issued to DHH totaling approximately $1,058,446 to the ... bank account for her personal use.”

DHH fired Loper in March 2013. She had been employed by DHH’s Division of Fiscal Management since April 2005.

The agency took steps to limit employees dealing with checks in the wake of the Loper situation.





http://theadvocate.com/home/9578507-125/loper-faces-ethics-charge


 

Beyond Words: Edwin W. Edwards

After Years in Politics and Prison, Louisiana Ex-Governor Will Run for Congress

Edwin W. Edwards announced his candidacy for Congress at a luncheon in Baton Rouge, La., on Monday.

William Widmer for The New York Times

 

By CAMPBELL ROBERTSON

March 17, 2014

BATON ROUGE, La. — After seven years in Congress, 16 years as governor, eight years in the federal penitentiary and several weeks of coyly prodding the speculation of political reporters, Edwin
Edwards, 86, announced on Monday that he would be running as a Democrat to represent Louisiana’s Sixth Congressional District.

“Iacta alea est,” Mr. Edwards said, after describing how Julius Caesar came to the rescue of the unhappy citizens of Rome. “The die is cast. Today I cross the Rubicon.”

The announcement, delivered at a gathering of the Baton Rouge Press Club, did not come with Caesar’s element of surprise. When Mr. Edwards entered the conference room at the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino and Hotel, leading his 35-year-old wife, Trina, and pushing his 7-month-old son, Eli, in a stroller, a large crowd was waiting with camera phones at the ready.


At the lectern, Mr. Edwards, who was released from prison in 2011, raised and rebutted various reasons he should not run, from his age to his criminal record. On the latter point he did not explicitly maintain his innocence, but forcefully questioned the propriety of his conviction in 2000 on federal charges of extortion in connection with the distribution of casino licenses.

On the issues, Mr. Edwards laid out a classic Blue Dog Democratic platform: urging the approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, criticizing President Obama’s health care plan while supporting certain elements like Medicaid expansion. He was more serious than salacious, holding in reserve his renowned talent for dirty jokes, but still showing flashes of wit, mostly in reference to his time in prison.

“I did not vote for Obama,” he said, apparently referring to the president’s 2008 election. “Where I was at the time there were no voting machines.”

While good-government advocates in Louisiana find an Edwards candidacy somewhere between exasperating and offensive, Mr. Edwards’s primary liability is probably the mere fact that he is a Democrat.

The Sixth is a solidly conservative district, wrapping around the city of Baton Rouge to allow for the majority-minority Second Congressional District, which follows the Mississippi River from New Orleans. The suburbs of Baton Rouge were never strong territory for Mr. Edwards, and while his most reliable constituencies — black voters and the voters in Cajun country — are likely to be enough to send him to a runoff, they would not be nearly enough, by themselves, to deliver a victory.

The district is represented by Bill Cassidy, a Republican, who is running for the Senate seat now held by Mary L. Landrieu, a Democrat. Several Republican candidates are already vying to take his place. One of them, Garret Graves, showed up to wish Mr. Edwards luck; others dismissed his candidacy as a throwback.

Among the most discussed political questions is what Mr. Edwards’s campaign might mean for Ms. Landrieu, who needs every Democratic vote she can get. Mr. Edwards said he had not discussed the race with her. (“Frankly,” he said, “I thought a long time about running for her seat.”) But in a brief interview after his announcement, Mr. Edwards took credit for her initial election to the Senate in 1996, saying his efforts to turn out the black vote on her behalf put her over the top.

The other question most often raised is why Mr. Edwards is running at all.

“I think the real reason he’s doing this it is it would just be fun,” said John Maginnis, a political columnist who has written two books on Mr. Edwards. “He gets to speak in black churches and march in parades, and he’ll be a big hit in the forums, which would be awful otherwise.”

Mr. Edwards’s post-prison life has hardly been quiet: He has gotten married and had a child, toured the state signing copies of his biography and starred with his family in a reality television show, “The Governor’s Wife.” The show was dropped by the A & E channel last year for low ratings, but its creator, Shaun Sanghani, said he hoped that it could come back to chronicle Mr. Edwards’ congressional run.

“When I got out of prison I assumed that I was just going to fade away because I didn’t know what kind of public reaction I would have,” Mr. Edwards explained in an interview. In his travels around the state, he continued, “everybody that I meet wants me to run for governor. Which I’d like to do.

But I’m prohibited by state law. But I’m qualified by the United States Constitution to run for Congress.”

Not everyone is dismissive of his prospects.

“Edwards has always kept his popularity even when he was in jail,” said Richard P. Guidry, a former Democratic state legislator. “You have to be a unique person to do that.”

Being sent to a federal prison, he noted, is “the kind of thing that gets you defeated.”


http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/03/18/us/former-louisiana-governor-86-announces-run-for-congress.html

Louisiana Governor Likens Online Gaming Executives To The Sopranos

February 20th, 2014 Author: B. Solomon

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has become the latest politician to voice strong opposition to online gambling and last week he wrote an op-ed for the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report vowing to campaign against its spread in the US, and particularly his home state of Louisiana.

A recent study entitled ‘U.S. Internet Gambling in Focus‘ named Louisiana as one of 10 states seriously considering online gambling legalization in 2014. The report obviously didn’t sit well with Jindal, however, who subsequently took the opportunity to reiterate his campaign promise to put a halt to any proposals by state legislators to expand gambling in Louisiana.

The Pelican State won $202.2 million from casino gamblers in December, 2013, but the introduction of regulated online gambling is seen as a step too far by the Republican governor, who then likened internet gaming executives to Soprano’s gangster Christopher Moltisanti, who killed screenwriter J.T. Dolan after involving him in a dangerous game he couldn’t afford to play.

“Those who want to bring casinos into America’s living rooms say ‘trust us, it’s safe for kids,’ and that the ‘technology can thwart criminals and money launderers. I don’t trust them, and neither should the people of Louisiana,” explained Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Ironically, since taking office six years ago the Louisiana governor hadn’t focused much on internet gambling until the Gambling Compliance report was released, coupled with Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson’s recent high-profile anti-internet gambling ad campaign. Jindal has subsequently attacked the US DoJ’s 2011 reinterpretation of the 1961 Wire Act as a huge mistake and has vowed to prevent regulated online poker and casino games finding a toehold in Louisiana.

“There is a big difference between having to go to a casino and having a casino come to you. Americans know that betting on an iPhone or a computer or on an iPad is fundamentally different, and much more dangerous than going to a casino where trained staff can prevent kids from playing. It is impossible to implement a responsible gambling protocol in an Internet gambling environment,” concluded the 42 year-old State Governor.

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• Mississippi Fails To Approve Legalized Online Gambling Bill
• Optimal Group Inc Agrees To Hand Over $19.2 Million In Payment Processing Case

http://www.onlinepoker.net/poker-news/poker-law-industry-news/louisiana-governor-likens-online-gaming-executives-sopranos/22394
 

Mississippi casino revenue drops in 13th of 15 months

Oct. 21, 2013 10:35 PM

Written by

Jeff Amy

Associated Press

 

Mississippi casinos won less money from gamblers in September for the 13th month out of 15, as casinos along the Mississippi River continued to lag badly.

Mississippi Department of Revenue figures show statewide casino revenue fell 4.4 percent from September 2012 to $170.2 million.

The 12 coastal casinos won $88.2 million from gamblers, up 1.7 percent from $86.7 million in September 2012. The 18 river casinos from Tunica to Natchez won $82 million, down 10 percent from $91.2 millio.

The numbers exclude Choctaw Indian casinos, which don’t have to report to the state.

Revenue statewide is down about 4.5 percent over the last 12 months. After hitting nearly $2.9 billion in 2007, revenue fell 22 percent to $2.25 billion in 2012. And the take is on track to dip another $100 million in 2013, state figures show.

Revenue is dropping because fewer people are coming through the doors at the state’s 30 casinos.

The number of customers fell from 10.1 million in April, May and June 2007 to 6.4 million in the same three months of 2013, according to the state Gaming Commission.

A brief improvement in the early 2012 was followd by a downward trend resuming. Industry leaders have said casinos along the Mississippi River, Tunica and Lula have suffered from competition from expanding gambling at two racetracks in Arkansas. Some casinos have suffered financial distress, and the industry as a whole has been shedding workers.

Revenues in Arkansas rose almost six-fold from 2007 to 2012 and were 17 percent higher in July than a year earlier.

In Louisiana, state-licensed casinos won $182.2 million in September — nearly 9 percent less than a year earlier. In September 2012, a new casino opened in Baton Rouge. Year-over-year comparisons with 2013 were unfavorable with the three-casino market falling nearly 17 percent.


http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20131022/BIZ/310220043/Mississippi-casino-revenue-drops-13th-15-months

Mississippi: June casino revenue takes a slide

June casino revenue takes a slide

Published: July 22, 2013

 

By MARY PEREZ — meperez@sunherald.com

BILOXI -- The grand opening of the Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi in June wasn't enough to move casino revenue on the Coast above last year's levels.

The same thing happened last month in Louisiana, where the new Margaritaville Casino was open in Bossier City for 17 days and took in $7.9 million, but revenue statewide was down $8.3 million from a year ago.

The 12 casinos in South Mississippi finished June with gross casino revenue down 5 percent from June 2012, according to the report released Monday by the Mississippi Department of Revenue. The amount won by the casinos dropped to $85.2 million from $89.9 million a year earlier.
Bradley Rhines, vice president of marketing at the Golden Nugget, said revenue has exceeded expectations since the Isle Casino was rebranded as the Golden Nugget June 21.

"That trend has continued through July," he said. "We've been encouraged by the turnout."

The Golden Nugget is giving away four Mustangs this summer as a promotion to draw new visitors and Rhines said they are signing up visitors to their players' club that were never registered at the Isle Casino, exposing new people to the market and the Golden Nugget brand.

Revenue at Mississippi's river casinos dropped by 8 percent in June. Winnings were $89.3 million from $97.0 million a year ago. The state's casino revenue was down $12.4 million, or 7 percent, from June 2012.

Larry Gregory, executive director of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association, said June's numbers aren't drastic or unexpected.

"Less people are coming to the state and are spending less dollars. We know that," he said. "We have to stop it."

In South Mississippi, he said the new three-county tourism commission is looking for an answer to declining tourism. Gregory said what is needed to draw people to the casinos is more non-casino activities.

Declining revenues also impact taxpayers in South Mississippi, since fewer tax dollars are being shared by the state and local governments and school districts.

For the first six months of the year, Coast casino revenue is $541 million compared to $562 million from January to June in 2012 and $566 million in 2011.

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/22/4814424/june-casino-revenue-takes-a-slide.html#storylink=cpy

 

 

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/22/4814424/june-casino-revenue-takes-a-slide.html

 

 

 

 

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/22/4814424/june-casino-revenue-takes-a-slide.html#storylink=cpy
 

Mississippi law firms perfecting sucking discretionary income from the local economy

Someone's getting rich from casino gambling and it's not the Gambling Addicts!

Mississippi law firms dedicated to gambling issues

• LISA MONTI, Mississippi Business Journal
• Memphis Commercial Appeal
• Posted June 23, 2013

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Gutsy casino entrepreneurs helped launch Mississippi into the gambling business more than 20 years ago, and today a new breed of entrepreneurs are buying up properties for their portfolios.

One constant in the casino market's maturation process: lawyers. At the beginning, there were regulations to learn and transactions to clear for brand new clients. Now firms have teams of lawyers dedicated to handling gambling issues.

Tommy Shepherd, Gaming Industry Team co-leader with Jones Walker, and Danny McDaniel, chairman of Baker Donelson's Gaming Industry Service Team, were among the first to learn the ropes of the new industry.

Shepherd recalled that in the early 1990s "true entrepreneurs" came to Mississippi and pioneered the gambling industry.

"After that, some of the entrepreneurs took their companies public, like Lyle Berman and his company, Grand Casinos. Then we entered a period of consolidation and acquisitions by private equity groups," Shepherd said.

With the downturn in the economy, he said, some companies are taking stock of their Mississippi casino holdings and are looking at whether they should keep them in their portfolios.

"That evaluation process and the bankruptcies of several Mississippi gaming companies may result in sales of some properties to new entrants to the gaming industry, such as Golden Nugget Gaming in Biloxi," Shepherd said. "In other words, we may be going back to the future with entrepreneur ownership of Mississippi casinos."

They'll still need their lawyers. So will the makers of slots and table games, casino suppliers and the banks that are involved in gambling.

"Whenever there's a change in ownership, that triggers gaming approvals or when there is a new financing, we play a role in the transactions," Shepherd said.

Shepherd, who spends "90 percent plus" of his practice devoted to gambling, put together a legal team that's considered one of the state's largest gambling practices. The law firm publishes the widely read Mississippi Gaming Law Blog at www.msgaminglaw.com.

Danny McDaniel practices exclusively in gambling law in Mississippi and Louisiana. He has been involved with Mississippi's casino "since day one." He recalled the developers of the state's early riverboat industry as "really dynamic, independent entrepreneurs like Lyle Berman and John Connolly" who became so successful "they had investment bankers throwing money at them."

Now gambling has spread throughout the country and it's back in the hands of independent entrepreneurs, he said. Nowadays McDaniel works mostly with wealthy independent entrepreneurs who are developing projects "when most publicly traded companies are facing competition and focusing on the East Coast and other places" besides Mississippi.

That's a far cry from the early days that McDaniel describes as the build-it-and-they-will-come era.

"Back then you put up a casino and people waited in line and paid $5 for the privilege of gambling," he said.

The new independent casino entrepreneurs aren't bound by corporate restrictions or bureaucracy.

"They can move quicker and more decisively," said McDaniel.

Shepherd and McDaniel both say they, like most everybody else, had no idea that gambling would grow into such a large industry has it has in Mississippi.

Shepherd said his first gambling client in 1992 had a small project on the coast that "didn't go anywhere," but it introduced him to the new statutes and the Gaming Commission members.

"I didn't think many people except a few visionaries thought we would have anything like this in Mississippi today," said Shepherd.

"We thought we would have a decent practice in it and many good clients. I don't think any of us who do regulatory work thought it would be as much or as consistent as it is."

The statutes and regulations have stayed substantially the same for many years, Shepherd said, but there's some tweaking from time to time.

McDaniel had recently left a job in the U.S. Attorney's Office civil division and joined Heidelberg and Woodliff in 1991. Five years later he moved to Phelps Dunbar where he began its gambling practice. He's been with Baker Donelson since 2010.

"When gaming came in, I ended up representing one of the first gaming companies on the coast and it just went from there. I thought it was just something else I would do in my practice. But once I started doing gaming work it was hard to go back to my previous practice."

Shepherd said the most memorable person he has met in the gambling industry was Bill Boyd, founder of Boyd Gaming.

"He was remarkable in that he is not what you might have expected a gaming executive to look and act like," said Shepherd. "He is a genuine person, a kind and decent man."

Today's crop of entrepreneurs aren't like Bill Boyd, who came up in the gambling industry, McDaniel said. They're businessmen like Carl Icahn and Landry's Restaurant founder Tilman Frittata, who see casinos as a part of their holdings.

"The reason this is so much fun is because I'm dealing with some of the wealthiest and most dynamic people in the world," McDaniel said.

Six clients have been on Forbes' World Billionaires List.

[Of course they have been because this is a massive redistribution of wealth.]

"They're all extremely bright and dynamic and have this self confidence that is just amazing," McDaniel said. "It's a fascinating way to make a living."


http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/jun/23/mississippi-law-firms-dedicated-gambling-issues/

Louisiana Gambling Addict Embezzles $1 MILLION State Funds

Gambling ‘addict’ accused in $1M theft from Medicaid program
by Jim Mustian
June 05, 2013

Deborah Crowder Loper

A former state Department of Health and Hospitals accountant with a history of gambling addiction was arrested Tuesday on accusations she swindled more than $1 million from the state’s Medicaid program — money authorities said was spent at area casinos.

The accountant, Deborah C. Loper, allegedly diverted the funds over a period of six years in a scheme that shocked unwitting colleagues and revealed weaknesses in department policy.

“Everybody trusted her,” said Kathy Kliebert, the interim DHH secretary. “Nobody had any real indication at all that there was any kind of a problem.”

A 14-page arrest warrant accuses Loper, 46, 9642 Hardwood Drive, of intercepting more than 130 checks payable to DHH and depositing them into an account she had been instructed to close several years ago.

She was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on counts of theft by fraud, money laundering and malfeasance in office, authorities said.

A law enforcement search of Loper’s home and vehicle turned up receipts tied to the account as well as casino player cards, according to court filings.

Bank records associated with the account show more than $817,000 in transactions made at area casinos.

State officials, seeking to recoup the stolen funds, have filed suit against Loper and Capital One, the bank where the money was deposited.

“Ms. Loper squandered hundreds of thousands of tax dollars meant for invaluable health care services for Louisiana’s Medicaid recipients and used her position as a public servant for her own personal gain,” Attorney General Buddy Caldwell said in a prepared statement.

He said Loper would be prosecuted “to the fullest extent of the law.”

Loper, in her role at DHH, had been entrusted to manage a bank account opened in 2006 on behalf of the National Association of State Human Services Financial Officers in order to facilitate that association’s 2009 conference, the warrant said.

Stan Mead, the former DHH fiscal director, volunteered to hold the conference and designated Loper and her immediate supervisor, Jeff Reynolds, to organize it, according to the warrant.

Loper was responsible for management of the account “and had complete authority to conduct legitimate financial transactions” on the association’s behalf, the warrant said.

She was told to close the account after the conference, authorities said, but fabricated documents making it appear it had been closed and also changed the address on the account so she could receive monthly statements at her home.

Between March 2007 and January, authorities said, Loper deposited checks totaling $1,058,446 made payable to DHH, Medicaid Payment Management Section and Medicaid refunds. Those funds had been intended as Medicaid reimbursements.

Loper’s scheme apparently went unnoticed until February, when she inadvertently deposited one of the checks — for more than $40,000 — into her account, an oversight she at first sought to explain away as an accidental deposit made by her secretary, the warrant said.

Loper abruptly resigned her position at DHH after learning the account had been frozen.

Her attorney, Steven Moore, later told DHH officials the department should review a Capital One bank account Loper had been affiliated with, the warrant said.

“The fact that a state employee was able to steal over a million dollars of taxpayer money is shocking enough,” Inspector General Stephen Street said in a statement. “Of particular concern to us are the conditions that allowed Ms. Loper to engage in this scheme over a period of years without being detected.”

Kliebert said DHH has taken steps to safeguard against future embezzlements, implementing new internal controls and hiring William W. Root, a former federal agent, to conduct internal audits.

Root has met with DHH’s internal departments to identify risk areas and has established some new positions, Kliebert said.

“You had somebody in a position to know how to get around those policies,” Kliebert said of Loper.

“So now our focus will be on how do we have enough checks and balances, enough controls to make sure that we don’t give that much authority and ability to one person to be able to get around those policies.”

http://theadvocate.com/home/6161587-125/gambling-addict-accused-in-1m

In other words, Gambling Addicts are allowed to lose money that casinos don't have to return.
Good advertising campaign!

Maybe some day states will have the sense to ban them.

La. casinos seize $800,000 for owed child support

Angel Pellegrin plays a video poker machine Friday at Jack's in Houma.
Benjamin Oliver Hicks/Staff

By Chance Ryan
Staff Writer

Published: Friday, March 8, 2013 at 6:35 p.m.

The state's casino interception program captured more than $806,000 in casino winnings in 2012 from non-custodial parents owing child support payments.
 

Amelia Belle Casino in Morgan City seized nearly $50,000 for the program. State law allows casinos to collect child support from people who win more than $1,200.

 

Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge seized the most — $106,771 — of the state's 18 non-Indian casinos.

 

Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services officials said the program has been a successful tool in collecting overdue support.

 

“In our work to assist families who rely on court-ordered child support to provide for their children, DCFS uses every avenue available, like casino intercepts, to collect the more than $1.2 billion owed by non-custodial parents statewide,” said DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier in a statement.

 

Former Sen. Nick Gautreaux introduced the legislation in 2010, and Gov. Bobby Jindal signed the bill that year. Casinos run the gambler's name through a child support database to see if any money is owed.

 

Other states with similar laws include Mississippi, Indiana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Colorado and West Virginia.

 

Reece Middleton, executive director of the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling, said he sees the benefits of the program, but it might also be an administrative burden on casinos.

 

“Who would stand up and be against this and say, ‘Well, we want people to use welfare money in our casinos that's intended for the DCFS'? You just don't say that.”

 

Middleton said he wonders if the program is intended more to punish casinos than to benefit child welfare services.

 

“It just seems like a lot to ask from a casino,” he said. “I don't see how they keep up with it.”

“Is it beneficial for us? No,” said Wade Duty, executive director of the Louisiana Casino Association. “But it is beneficial for children who have parents who are not paying their child support.”

 

Duty said the law is just another requirement the casino industry has to comply with.

 

“I wouldn't say that it's too much,” he said. “Casinos are used to being a highly regulated industry, and if it's a requirement then that's what we're going to do.”

 

Duty said the program doesn't involve too much of a financial constraint on casinos because it's not necessarily their money that's being lost.

 

“These are winnings that would normally be paid to a player,” he said. “But because that player has an obligation that supersedes his interests, then it's going to be routed to DCFS for distribution to the dependent child.”

 

The only money coming out of the casinos' pockets, Duty said, is the labor costs and time it takes to make sure the money is remitted to the state.

 

“We are in the customer service business, and if you have to suspend everyone's jackpot while you hunt through a 120,000-name database then it gets very cumbersome,” he said. “But DCFS did a really good job about listening to our concerns, and they produced a product that is easily searchable.”

 

Casino interceptions is just one of many avenues the state can use to enforce these payments.

 

Failure to pay court-ordered child support can result in liens against a non-payer's property; seizure of assets; suspension of driver's, hunting or fishing licenses; interception of state and federal tax refunds; passport denial; and contempt of court charges, among other enforcement actions.

 

Any parent or person responsible for a child can receive services from the state's Child Support Enforcement program. For information or to apply for services, visit www.dcfs.la.gov/CSE.

You can also search the database for Louisiana delinquent child support payers at www.dcfs.la.gov/delinquent.

 

 

http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20130308/ARTICLES/130309666/1320?Title=La-casinos-seize-800-000-for-owed-child-support

Casino Crime: NOPD Seeks Ticket Thief

Casino Crime: NOPD Seeks Ticket Thief (Video)
Posted Sunday, February 3rd, 2013

It's not uncommon for people to lose all their cash in the casino, but last night's robbery victims lost more than money. The NOPD has surveillance of the crooks who stole seven NFL tickets from some unsuspecting gamblers.

At 10:57pm last night, the victim and family members were exiting Harrah’s via the Canal Street doors. The suspects spotted the group leaving and followed them to the door. A suspect, donning a navy blue Adidas jogging suit with white stripes down the sleeves and pants, a dark knit cap, and tennis shoes, reached into the victim’s back pocket and stole a white envelope containing seven NFL tickets.

After swiping the tix, the subject entered and exited through the Canal Street doors and met up with four black males and two black females. The group fled down Canal heading towards the river, making a right towards Poydras in the direction of Convention Center Boulevard.

The suspect who physically stole the tickets is in his mid 20’s, about 5 ft. 9 inches tall, weighs about 180 pounds, and has short black hair. The second suspect is in his mid 20’s to early 30’s, also about 5 ft. 9 inches, about 240-260 pounds. He was wearing a white baseball cap, flannel plaid long sleeved shirt, and blue jeans.

Suspect number three is in his mid 20’s, about 5 ft. 10 inches, and weighs between 240 and 250 pounds. He was wearing a Kankoo hat, a brown blazer, a light colored shirt, tan pants, and dress shoes. Number four is also in his mid 20’s, about 5 ft. 9 inches, also wearing a dark Kankoo hat, a dark blazer, and dark pants. Number five stands at about 5 ft. 10 inches and weighs 180-190 pounds. He was wearing a dark-colored button down shirt and dark pants.



Citizens with information that can help solve this crime or know the identity or whereabouts of these men are asked to call CRIMESTOPPERS at 822-1111 or toll-free 1-877-903-STOP (7867). Those with information can also text a crime tip to C-R-I-M-E-S (274637), Text TELLCS then your crime information. Folks could receive a cash reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person(s) responsible. No one is required to give his or her name nor testify to receive the reward. Citizens can also submit an anonymous tip online to CRIMESTOPPERS at www.crimestoppersgno.org.

http://www.noladefender.com/content/casino-cri67me-no3pd-seeks-ticket-thief-video

Legends' Bankruptcy Sale Crumbles

Deal to sell casinos falls apart

By Mike Nolan mnolan@southtownstar.com

February 1, 2013

 

The sale of casinos in Louisiana and Mississippi — operated by a company controlled by a Homer Glen man — to an Oklahoma Indian tribe has apparently unraveled, according to court documents.

Legends Gaming had filed for bankruptcy last August and announced it was selling its DiamondJacks casinos in Bossier City, La., and Vicksburg, Miss., to Global Gaming Solutions. At that time, the deal was valued at $125 million.

William McEnery, the former owner of the Gas City chain, is Legends’ chairman, chief executive officer and majority shareholder.

 

Legends’ plan for emerging from bankruptcy hinged on selling substantially all of its assets to Global Gaming, a subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation.

 

In a bankruptcy court filing on Wednesday in Louisiana, Legends alleges that Global Gaming has breached the terms of the sale agreement, and that Global “has clearly indicated that it has no intention of closing the purchase of the assets.” Legends said that, as a result, it was withdrawing its pending plan for exiting bankruptcy.

 

In a response filed Thursday, Global Gaming insisted it hadn’t violated any terms of the agreement and “has met all of its obligations.” Global said it had been moving forward with getting approval from regulators to take control of the two casinos.

 

McEnery’s Gas City locations were sold following a separate bankruptcy case, and his personal bankruptcy case is continuing in federal court in Chicago.

 

http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/business/17954870-420/deal-to-sell-casinos-falls-apart.html

 

 

Promoting Casinos as Public Service???

Pretending Casinos are serving a public good by seizing the WINNINGS of deadbeat parents ignores their losses that keep casinos in business.

How much of their losses have casinos kept?

Casinos collect $800,000 in child support
Posted: Jan 29, 2013
Michael Oliver

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -
Three Baton Rouge casinos have helped the Department of Children and Family Services collect more than $170,000 from deadbeat parents.

Since the beginning of the program in 2011, the Belle of Baton Rouge collected has $46,397.61, Hollywood Casino has collected $106,771.93, and L'Auberge Baton Rouge has collected $20,454.57.

18 Louisiana casinos participate in the program to collect child support from casino winnings of more than $1,200. Statewide, more than $800,000 has been collected.

"In our work to assist families who rely on court ordered child support to provide for their children, DCFS uses every avenue available, like casino intercepts, to collect the more than $1.2 billion owed by non-custodial parents statewide," said DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier.

Six other states have similar programs.

http://www.wafb.com/story/20778404/casinos-collect-800000-in-child-support

Ameristar Investigation

Ameristar formerly sought a Springfield, MA site.

Law Office of Brodsky & Smith, LLC Announces Investigation of Ameristar Casinos, Inc.

By: Brodsky & Smith, LLC via PR Newswire

BALA CYNWYD, Pa., Jan. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Law office of Brodsky & Smith, LLC announces that it is investigating potential claims against the Board of Directors of Ameristar Casinos, Inc. ("Ameristar" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: ASCA) relating to the proposed acquisition by Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. ("Pinnacle").

Under the terms of the transaction, Ameristar shareholders will receive only $26.50 in cash for each share of Ameristar stock they own. The investigation concerns possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of state law by the Board of Directors of Ameristar for not acting in the Company's shareholders' best interests in connection with the sale process to Pinnacle. The transaction may undervalue the Company as Ameristar expects to open its 500 million Lake Charles, La project in 2014. In addition, an analyst has set a price target for Ameristar stock at $29.00 per share.

If you own shares of Ameristar stock and wish to discuss the legal ramifications of the proposed transaction, or have any questions, you may e-mail or call the law office of Brodsky & Smith, LLC who will, without obligation or cost to you, attempt to answer your questions.  You may contact Jason L. Brodsky, Esquire or Evan J. Smith, Esquire at Brodsky & Smith, LLC, Two Bala Plaza, Suite 602, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, by e-mail at investorrelations@brodsky-smith.com visiting http://brodsky-smith.com/524-asca-ameristar-casinos-inc.html, by calling toll free 877-LEGAL-90.
SOURCE Brodsky & Smith, LLC
http://finance.boston.com/boston/news/read?GUID=23131590

Woman accused of cheating dismisses case against Delta Downs

Posted on October 11, 2012
By DAVID YATES

Connie Sue Broussard and Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel have filed a joint a motion to dismiss a lawsuit centered on a malfunctioning slot machine. 

As previously reported, Broussard filed suit against Delta Downs and casino employee Travis Waters on Feb. 4, 2010, in Jefferson County District Court.

She claimed the casino wrongfully accused her of cheating and tampering with a slot machine.

In June, the Louisiana casino demanded the local resident drop her lawsuit after surveillance video showed her stealing.

Court records show that on June 16, the attorney for the defendants, James Doyle, filed a letter notifying the plaintiff’s counsel that he obtained video surveillance of Broussard stealing money from a malfunctioning machine that she knew was not working properly.

On Sept. 27 the parties filed a joint motion to dismiss, asking the court to dismiss the case with prejudice and that each party bear its own costs, court papers say.

That same day, Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, granted the motion.

In her suit, Broussard claims she and her husband decided to travel to Delta Downs in Vinton, La., on Feb. 5, 2009.

Arriving between 11 a.m. and noon, Broussard proceeded to play various slot machines for several hours, winning money on some machines and losing on others, according to the complaint filed.

Broussard claims that when she attempted to cash her ticket vouchers several employees approached and detained her, the suit states.

“When she inquired about the detention, an employee of Defendant Delta Downs publicly stated that ‘you know what you did’ and further publicly and falsely accused Plaintiff of ‘milking’ the casino ‘for over $13,000,’” the complaint says.

“Employees of Defendant Delta Downs then publicly seized the casino money vouchers as well as all cash in Plaintiff’s possession.”

Waters then allegedly led her to an isolated room where he and other employees interrogated her for an hour and a half. Broussard said they accused her of tampering with one of the slot machines so it would pay her more often, according to the complaint.

The suit states employees took all of Broussard’s money from her, then took her to jail.

On Nov. 16, 2009, the casino dropped the felony theft charge against Broussard and the money was returned to her on Jan. 15, 2010, according to the complaint.

Broussard claims she experienced humiliation, embarrassment, emotional distress, mental anguish, fright, anger, aggravation, worry, loss of enjoyment of life, deprivation of liberty, invasion of privacy and pain from the incident.

Broussard is represented by Robert Keith Wade of the Law Offices of Robert Keith Wade in Beaumont and by Brian D. Sutton of Sutton and Jacobs in Beaumont.

Case No. E185-861

http://setexasrecord.com/news/275588-woman-accused-of-cheating-dismisses-case-against-delta-downs

Caesers' Horseshoe Fails to Keep TX Patron Safe

BCPD seeks casino purse snatching suspect

Posted: Tuesday, October 9, 2012


WANTED: Anthony Antonio Scott, Jr. (Source: Bossier City Police Department)

BOSSIER CITY, LA (KSLA) -

The Bossier City Police Department and Bossier Crimes Stoppers are asking the public for help in finding the suspect they say is responsible for a purse snatching that left the victim with a broken hip.

 

Bossier Crimes Stoppers is offering a $435 reward for information that leads to the arrest Anthony Antonio Scott Jr., 24, of Bossier City.

 

Detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit have secured a warrant for Scott's arrest on charges of purse snatching and second degree battery in connection with an assault that occurred in the lobby of the Horseshoe Casino Hotel shortly after midnight on September 28, 2012.

 

The incident was caught on security camera video.* It shows a man police have identified as Scott coming up behind the victim and grabbing her purse, causing the 66-year old woman from Garland, Texas to violently fall to the floor. As a result, the victim suffered a broken hip.

 

Police say Scott then dragged the victim across the floor as she continued to hold on to her purse.

 

They say Scott eventually pulled the purse from the victim's grasp and ran out of the lobby to the front parking lot where he got into a newer model white 4-door Chevrolet Malibu and drove off.

 

Scott is a black male, 6' tall, and weighs 170 pounds. Anyone with information that can help police locate him is asked to call Bossier Crime Stoppers at (318) 424-4100. They can also submit a web or text tip via the Bossier Crime Stoppers website at www.bossiercrimestoppers.org.

Persons who contact Crime Stoppers are reminded they may remain totally anonymous.

 

*Editor's note: Ceasar's Entertainment has asked that the video originally posted with this story not be published without their permission, as the woman in the video has not signed a release.

 

http://www.ksla.com/story/19776236/violent-purse-snatching-caught-on-camera-suspect-at-large