Wednesday, March 26, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
A former casino dealer was sentenced to seven years in prison for helping Asian gamblers cheat the Las Vegas Hilton out of as much as $172,000.
Dealer Hung Quoc Ly, 30, was taken into custody Tuesday following the sentencing by U.S. District Judge Lloyd George.
Later that same day, George sentenced Hong Kong high-roller Chi Pang Lee, 42, to 97 months in prison for his leadership role in the scam.
Ly and Lee were part of a criminal ring of Asian gamblers and Las Vegas dealers that ultimately cheated not only the Hilton but the Sheraton Desert Inn and MGM Grand casinos out of a total of $768,000 in 1995.
The two men and four others were convicted of conspiracy and multiple counts of money laundering and interstate and foreign travel in aid of racketeering in November. The four other defendants were to be sentenced today.
U.S. prosecutor Eric Johnson alleged that Ly was largely responsible for the casinos loss.
The scam on the three casinos occurred through a "false shuffle" where a player records the order of cards and the dealer improperly shuffles the deck, creating a "slug" of cards whose order can be predicted.
Evidence produced at the trial showed that a player recorded the order of the cards and then sometimes distracted a casino supervisor or pit boss, allowing the dealer to improperly shuffle the cards and create the "slug."
As the cards were dealt, the "slug" of 30 cards appeared and the recorder would dramatically raise the amount of his wager, signaling to his co-conspirators to raise their bets.
The "false shuffle" dealt by Ly allowed the Asian gamblers to leave the table with $172,000. The Hilton fired Ly after learning of the scam.
George sentenced Ly to 87 months in prison and ordered him to help repay the casinos the $768,000 that they lost.
"It's a great disappointment to the court when I find people ... who obviously do have talent (but are) willing to become part of criminal activity of this nature," George said.
George sentenced Lee to 97 months in prison. In addition to repaying the casinos, Lee must pay $15,000. Upon his release from prison he cannot return to the United States without first getting the permission of the federal government, George ordered.
Ly and Lee's prison terms were the minimum amount of time that could be given under U.S. sentencing guidelines. They are expected to appeal the decisions.
"I'm innocent of this case," Lee said through an interpreter. "I come by myself (to Las Vegas). I had no contact with others. I'm an honest person. I'm a businessman in Hong Kong without any record."
Five other members of the cheating ring are fugitives. Among them are Los Angeles residents "Erica" Mui Lu, 37, and Som "Tommy" Hom, 33. The others are believed to be in Hong Kong.
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