Casino cheater admits to $1M scam
A member of a sophisticated card-cheating ring admitted that he swindled casinos in California and Canada out of some $1 million by bribing card dealers and using card-counting devices, the U.S. attorney’s office said. Tai Khiem Tran, 47, pleaded guilty to conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise that was based in San Diego. Prosecutors said that between 2002 and 2005, Tran and 13 others used various schemes to cheat at blackjack and mini-baccarat. The cheaters won thousands of dollars during card games—netting $868,000 on one casino. Prosecutors also allege members of the organization used hidden transmitter devices and specially created software to predict the order cards would reappear during mini-baccarat and blackjack games. Tran faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on the racketeering conspiracy charge. He has also agreed to repay $823,612 and forfeit assets, including a house in the San Diego area, a 2006 Mercedes Benz, and jewelry. Tran admitted to targeting six casinos in California: Agua Caliente Casino and Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs; Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino in Lakeside; Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks; Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula; Sycuan Casino in El Cajon. His Canadian target was the Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario. He also faces separate charges in Canada. 
Tran is among 26 people who have pleaded guilty to charges relating to the casino-cheating conspiracy and targeting a combined 24 casinos.