Slot cheat gets 33 months in prison

Senior U.S. District Judge Lloyd George handed down the sentence Friday to Ronnie McElveen, 60, a professional horse-race bettor.

The 33-month term was at the lowest range of the sentence recommended in a pre-sentence report compiled by federal probation officials.

McElveen pleaded guilty in December to conspiracy, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, money laundering and interstate transportation of stolen property.

According to court documents, participants in the cheating scheme used a computer-generated device to defeat slot machines and win 10 jackpots at six Las Vegas casinos in 1996 and 1997.

The largest jackpot was for $3.8 million at Harrah's Las Vegas.

The mastermind of the scheme, Dennis McAndrew, was sentenced in December to 7 1/2 years in prison.

McElveen surveyed slot machines to find those that might be vulnerable to McAndrew's cheating skills, according to court documents.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Damm rejected the argument that McElveen was a relatively minor participant in the scheme, in which more than a dozen people allegedly participated.

"(McAndrew) didn't plan one of these capers without the assistance of Mr. McElveen," he told the judge.

At Damm's urging, George ordered McElveen to stay out of all gambling establishments after his release from prison.

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