Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Eight indicted in cheating scheme

A Sahara Hotel blackjack dealer and seven card players were indicted by the Clark County grand jury Thursday on charges of taking part in cheating scam at the hotel's casino.

The scheme occurred between June 13 and 25 and involved the use of a pre-arranged deck of cards dealt to the blackjack players seated at the table. The deck was discovered by State Gaming Control Board agents inside a marked six-deck "shoe."

The indictments resulted from a two-week investigation by board agents into cheating at the Sahara.

Charged with attempted cheating at gambling and possession of a cheating device are Dorothy Louise Defelice, 41, of 3240 Townhouse Drive; John P. Antonelli, 49, of 2410 Laurie Drive; Daniel Gerard, 48, of 1624 Palm St.; Victor P. Nickeas, 32, of 3951 E. Emerson Ave.; John E. Anderson, 46, of 4180 Flamingo Crest; Mary O. Steffen, also known as Bergerson, 49, of 1959 Flamingo Road; Claude Scallion (no age and address available), and Allen Green (no age and address available).

The suspects were arrested after casino security was beefed up in the aftermath of the resort's sale to Hacienda Hotel's Paul Lowden.

District Court Judge Paul Goldman is scheduled to arraign the suspects Aug. 11.