Sun file photo
The Green Valley Ranch casino-resort in Henderson.
Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014 | 1:29 p.m.
A Canadian real estate businessman and gambling high-roller is sought in Nevada on charges that he failed to repay $12.9 million in debts to two Las Vegas-area casinos more than five years ago, authorities said Thursday.
Semion Kronenfeld, 43, was named in an arrest warrant issued after a Clark County District Court grand jury charged him in a 12-count indictment with felony theft, bad checks and obtaining money under false pretenses.
The case is among the largest casino debt cases to reach court in Nevada. If he's convicted, Kronenfeld could face decades in state prison.
Kronenfeld's attorney in Las Vegas, Craig Mueller, didn't immediately respond Thursday to messages seeking comment.
Prosecutor Jake Merback, head of the Clark County district attorney's office bad check unit, said it wasn't clear where Kronenfeld was.
Authorities said after Kronenfeld's case became public in 2009 that he listed his occupation on casino credit records as the owner of an investment real estate company based in Ontario, Canada, and that he had an Israeli passport. He has also spelled his last name Cronenfeld.
The indictment handed up Wednesday accuses him of failing to repay $7.9 million in casino IOUs written in October 2008 at The Venetian resort on the Las Vegas Strip and $5 million less than two weeks later at the Green Valley Ranch resort in Henderson.
Nevada treats written casino IOUs, known as markers, like fraudulent bad checks. State law lets prosecutors collect a 10 percent processing and prosecution fee with any settlement. Most cases are resolved before charges are filed.
The case against Kronenfeld is one of the largest to reach court since the Nevada state Legislature added "credit extended by any licensed gaming establishment" to state bad check law in 1995.
In 2009, Terrance "Terry" Watanabe, the wealthy former owner of the Omaha, Neb.-based Oriental Trading Co., was indicted on allegations he failed to pay $14.75 million in casino debts. He countersued Harrah's Entertainment Inc., before both sides reached a confidential settlement in July 2010.
Other large casino bad check cases include a $2.5 million bad check dispute between "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis and casinos owned by Las Vegas casino magnate Steve Wynn, and the conviction in 2011 of former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker.
The Francis-Wynn case is pending before the Nevada Supreme Court.
Walker pleaded guilty before trial, was sentenced to five years' probation and ordered to pay about $770,000 in restitution.
In the spirit of Venice, The Venetian is a little piece of romantic Italy right here in Las Vegas. The Venetian is an "all-suite" hotel, with rooms accented with plush linens and Italian marble. The 4,027 suites are divided into two towers: The 36-story Venetian Tower that offers guests a taste of luxurious Las Vegas and the Venezia suites, which guarantee 12 floors of high-end elegance. The top five floors are the hotel's highest level of luxury with its private access, concierge lounge, upgraded features and even a dedicated staff.
Entertainment at the Venetian includes shows such as Tim and Faith - Soul2Soul, featuring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and Rock of Ages.
The flagship of Venetian nightlife is TAO, an ultra-hip nightclub located inside of TAO Asian Bistro. V Bar is The Venetian's super smooth ultra lounge, made by the owners of New York City's club Lotus and Los Angeles' super swank Sunset Room.
The Venetian features 19 restaurants including Thomas Keller's award-winning French restaurant Bouchon, Mario Batali's B&B Ristorante, Aquaknox for fresh seafood and the 42,000 square foot TAO Asian Bistro. There's also the food court inside the Canal Shoppes for those looking for a quick bite.
Guests can float along The Grand Canal Shops in an authentic Italian gondola ride and pass stores like Burberry and Kenneth Cole along the way. And if you haven't caught a real celeb, on the street in Vegas, you can head over to Madame Tussauds to check out a wax version.
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