Mississippi man convicted in Iowa casino fraud case

• Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations' Special Enforcement Operations Bureau and security employees at Grand Falls Casino helped uncover a fraudulent scheme
• A 38-year-old man used a range of methods to defraud the casino out of more than $10,000
• The suspect was recently convicted of nearly a dozen gambling-related charges, but a date for his sentencing is yet to be set

A man, who allegedly defrauded one Iowa casino out of more than $10,000 using a fraudulent scheme, was recently convicted.

On Friday, the Iowa Department of Public Safety released details regarding the criminal case that involved a 38-year-old man from Mississippi.

Casino fraudster detained

The man, who is currently facing multiple felony charges, committed "a series of fraudulent activities" at the Grand Falls Casino located in Larchwood, Iowa, the Iowa Department of Public Safety explained in a statement.

The suspect's actions date back to 2018, when he allegedly used a scheme to defraud the casino out of thousands of dollars.

However, casino security and agents from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations' Special Enforcement Operations Bureau (SEOB), investigated the suspect's actions.

Consequently, a warrant for the person's arrest was issued and he was detained in April this year on a range of felony gambling charges.

The investigation of SEOB and casino security uncovered that the now 38-year-old man manipulated casino staff and was able to obtain more than $10,000 in improper payouts.

Besides the fraudulent scheme, the suspect also avoided IRS reporting requirements by breaking down a sum of over $12,000 into smaller transactions.

The investigation also found out that he changed his clothes on several occasions and visited different tellers to cover up his tracks and remain under the radar.

Besides, at Grand Falls Casino, he allegedly conducted similar fraudulent activities at casinos across the country.

A jury convicted the 38-year-old fraudster

According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, the 38-year-old man was found guilty of multiple felony charges by a Lyon County jury.

He was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit a felony, a crime recognized as a class D felony.

Moreover, the jury found him guilty on five counts of cheating at gambling games and five counts of money laundering, crimes classified as class D felonies and class C felonies, respectively.

If the suspect is sentenced on more than one count related to cheating at gambling games in Iowa, they may be banned from all casinos in the state.

On the other hand, the money laundering charges may result in a lengthy prison sentence of up to 10 years, along with fines.

Despite the Mississippi man's conviction, a date for his sentencing is yet to be scheduled.

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