Cops: Suspects Cheat at Blackjack for Thousands - KTXL
KTXL
Cops: Suspects Cheat at Blackjack for Thousands
Rowena Lugtu-Shaddox
FOX40 News
October 8, 2010
TURLOCK
Twenty-four thousand dollars in 30 minutes.
That's how long authorities say it took three people, including one worker at the Turlock Poker Room to cheat their way playing blackjack.
"It's been fairly rare here. But it happens more than you think," casino co-owner Philip Rheinschild said.
Cops say the floor supervisor, 46-year-old Robert Younan, along with 71-year-old Gabriel Rodriguez and 58-year-old In Cha Say, have been charged with 11 criminal counts including burglary, conspiracy, grand theft and winning by fraudulent means.
Younan has worked at the card room for several years, and was considered part of the family. Say is his common law wife.
"I've known him for many years, cause I've been in the business since '92-'93. And we've worked other card rooms and been in other card rooms for years and stuff. But robbie's a really nice guy, he is. He's a nice guy, what can I say?" co-owner Joe Fernandez said.
Poker room workers got suspicious when Rodriguez would hit on 17, but then his accomplice Say, would stand on 11 - the opposite of normal strategy.
"We've got lots of surveillance here. We've got well trained employees. We know how to investigate. And if you cheat on our place, you'll be prosecuted," Rheinschild said.
Authorities say the suspects marked the cards with grease - 10s and face cards stained on the outer edge, while 7s, 8s and 9s were marked in the center. Cards 2 through 6 weren't marked at all.
"The operation had to be pretty sophisticated. The markings that were on the cards, very difficult to detect," Rheinschild said.
Surveillance showed Younan switched the regular cards with tainted ones just before Rodriguez sat down to play.
"You gotta be on the ball all the time. And have a system set up to protect yourself at all times," Fernandez added.
Copyright ? 2010, KTXL-TV
KTXL
Cops: Suspects Cheat at Blackjack for Thousands
Rowena Lugtu-Shaddox
FOX40 News
October 8, 2010
TURLOCK
Twenty-four thousand dollars in 30 minutes.
That's how long authorities say it took three people, including one worker at the Turlock Poker Room to cheat their way playing blackjack.
"It's been fairly rare here. But it happens more than you think," casino co-owner Philip Rheinschild said.
Cops say the floor supervisor, 46-year-old Robert Younan, along with 71-year-old Gabriel Rodriguez and 58-year-old In Cha Say, have been charged with 11 criminal counts including burglary, conspiracy, grand theft and winning by fraudulent means.
Younan has worked at the card room for several years, and was considered part of the family. Say is his common law wife.
"I've known him for many years, cause I've been in the business since '92-'93. And we've worked other card rooms and been in other card rooms for years and stuff. But robbie's a really nice guy, he is. He's a nice guy, what can I say?" co-owner Joe Fernandez said.
Poker room workers got suspicious when Rodriguez would hit on 17, but then his accomplice Say, would stand on 11 - the opposite of normal strategy.
"We've got lots of surveillance here. We've got well trained employees. We know how to investigate. And if you cheat on our place, you'll be prosecuted," Rheinschild said.
Authorities say the suspects marked the cards with grease - 10s and face cards stained on the outer edge, while 7s, 8s and 9s were marked in the center. Cards 2 through 6 weren't marked at all.
"The operation had to be pretty sophisticated. The markings that were on the cards, very difficult to detect," Rheinschild said.
Surveillance showed Younan switched the regular cards with tainted ones just before Rodriguez sat down to play.
"You gotta be on the ball all the time. And have a system set up to protect yourself at all times," Fernandez added.
Copyright ? 2010, KTXL-TV
