Blackjack Cheaters Hit With Charges

Fri., Aug. 12, 1994

From Staff

Six people accused of gambling with marked cards at Lummi Indian Casino blackjack tables were indicted on racketeering charges Thursday, the U.S. attorney said.

The federal grand jury indictment alleges that the six were members of a gambling enterprise that operated between June 1992 and April 1994.

According to the indictment, two casino employees removed playing cards from the casino so they could be marked by the defendants. The cards were returned to the casino and introduced into play by another casino employee at blackjack tables where the defendants played.

Those three casino employees have pleaded guilty to conspiracy in connection with their involvement. They were not a part of Thursday’s indictment, U.S. Attorney Kate Pflaumer said.

As much as $25,000 was won in one day on several occasions, according to court documents. Bill Gore, special agent in charge of the FBI office in Seattle, said total winnings from the scheme probably were in the six-figure range.

The winnings were then taken out-of-state, Pflaumer said.

The FBI investigated the case with the help of the Lummi Indian Gaming Commission.

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