Former Dealership Worker at MGM National Harbor Faces Fraud Charges
A former blackjack dealer is accused of participating in a $43,000 cheating conspiracy at Maryland's MGM National Harbor casino. Jamie Smith, 31, is charged with theft, conspiracy to commit theft, and embezzlement for the crimes that took place between October 2nd and 8th. The casino discovered the scheme after reviewing surveillance footage.
Smith allegedly allowed at least three players at the gaming table to glimpse the cards, allowing them to see the cards before placing bets and sometimes adjust their bets after seeing the cards. She also failed to collect from the players when they lost bets. This scheme resulted in the casino losing approximately $43,350.
Prince George's County State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy emphasized that economic crimes are severe, affecting not only businesses but also individuals and institutions. The stolen funds were supposed to be allocated to the state's Education Trust Fund, which supports Maryland students.
"It's not just a theft from the casino, it's stealing from our children. Money from the Education Trust Fund helps provide crucial services and resources for our public schools," Braveboy stated during a press conference.
If convicted, Smith could face a sentence of 10 or more years in prison. No information was given about the identities or charges of the other alleged participants in the cheating plot.
The casino has a strict zero-tolerance policy for this type of behavior. MGM National Harbor said in a statement, "At MGM National Harbor, we take such wrongdoing seriously and agree with prosecuting this individual to the fullest extent of the law." Braveboy, who has been in office since 2018, has not encountered such cases before.
Usually, MGM National Harbor-related crimes involve thefts of personal items, fights between visitors, or violent incidents, not cheating conspiracies. Assistant State's Attorney Joel Patterson described the cheating plan as "unusual."
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