Nevada gambling regulator extradites suspected cheater on felony charges

• A Mississippi man was arrested, charged and sentenced in Iowa over cheating at a casino
• The same person was recently extradited to Nevadadue to similar crimes
• In Nevada, the suspect is facing a range of felony charges over alleged participation in a multi-state casino fraud scheme

One man, described as a serial casino scammer by law enforcement, was recently extradited on multiple felony charges.

The criminal case involves a Mississippi man, who was wanted on felony counts in violation of the Nevada Gaming Control Act.

After a sentence in Iowa, the suspect is facing further legal woes in Nevada

As announced in a press release by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), the state’s gambling watchdog, Shaun Benward, the man who had allegedly participated in a multi-state casino fraud scheme, was successfully extradited to Nevada from a correctional facility in Iowa.

The Mississippi man was arrested in April 2025 as he had warrants in Iowa.

The arrest warrants follow an investigation of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s Special Enforcement Operations Bureau from 2018, which uncovered Benward engaged in a "series of fraudulent activities at the Grand Falls Casino" in Larchwood, Iowa.

The man had engaged in a fraudulent tactic, deciding casino staff and obtaining more than $10,000, while also avoiding IRS reporting requirements by breaking up over $12,000 in transactions by changing his outfit while on the casino floor to stay undetected.

After his arrest in April 2025, Benward was convicted on multiple felony charges, including five counts of money laundering, five counts of cheating at gambling games and one count of conspiracy to commit felony, an official press releasereveals.

This February, a court in Iowa sentenced Benward to 10 years in prison for defrauding employees at the Iowa casino.

However, the Mississippi man’s troubles with the law did not end there as he was also wanted in Nevada.

His recent extradition to Nevada was due to three felony counts of Fraudulent Acts and three felony counts of Conspiracy to Violate the Nevada Gaming Control Act.

NGCB’s Enforcement Division Chief, Kristi Torgerson, commented in a press release: "The NGCB remains fully committed to locating offenders, wherever they may be, to ensure they are brought to justice."

The NGCB thanked the Iowa law enforcement for their assistance in the case.

According to the watchdog, Benward was added to Nevada’s "List of Excluded Persons," also known as the state’s Black Book, which prohibits individuals from attending casinos.

He was added to the Black Book in December 2023, following multiple violations of the state’s gambling laws and after being trespassed from 17 casinos across Nevada.

The felony charges against the Mississippi man came after he was added to the Black Book.

The NGCB acknowledged that the criminal case is involving court proceedings, and further information will be released in due time.

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