Police: Men Net $420K Off Rigged Machine At Casino
Posted: 10:19 pm EDT October 6,2009Updated: 5:14 pm EDT October 8,2009
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Three people were arrested in a sophisticated theft scheme targeting The Meadows Casino, authorities said.Investigators said Tuesday that Andre Nestor, 37, and his two alleged co-conspirators, Patrick Loushil, 42, and former Swissvale police officer Kerry Laverde, are facing more than 360 counts of fraud and theft for allegedly ripping off the Meadows Casino in Washington County.The three men were arrested after allegedly taking advantage of a computer glitch in a poker machine, which police said netted them more than $420,000 in false winnings between June and August.Casino officials said the machine did not record pay-outs, which allowed the men to take advantage of the glitch without being noticed.According to the grand jury indictment, Nestor was the mastermind who posed as a high roller to gain the staff's trust, and Laverde posed as his body guard."Once the machine was compromised, they were able, basically, to make it pay out at their will," said District Attorney Steven Toprani. "In essence, they found a money tree.""I do spend a lot of money down here and for them to be able to come down and rig a machine and know how to do it and nobody catch them, it's not fair," said patron Denise Wise.All three suspects are in the Washington County Jail. They're charged with theft, conspiracy and receiving stolen property.
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Police: Men Net $420K Off Rigged Machine At Casino
Posted: 10:19 pm EDT October 6,2009Updated: 5:14 pm EDT October 8,2009
Copyright 2009 by WPXI.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.