Public Relations

Defendant pleas in robbery at Saginaw Chippewa Tribe's casino

Thursday, March 5, 2015

The Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Michigan. Photo from Facebook

One defendant has admitted his role in an armed robbery in the parking lot of a casino owned by the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan.

Taj M. Shackleford, 20, pleaded no contest to armed robbery and being a felon in possession of a weapon, The Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun reported. He was due to go to trial this Monday, the paper said.

The second defendant, Samantha N. Wynn, 19, is accused of luring the victim to the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort with the intent of robbing him. She allegedly brought Shackleford and a teen -- who accidentally shot himself before the crime took place -- into the scheme.

Wynn knew the victim had won $2,500 at a casino owned by Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians. But since she can't gamble at the FireKeepers Casino -- the legal age there is 21 -- she asked him to go to Soaring Eagle, where the minimum age is 18.

Wynn's trial, which was also due to start Monday, is likely to be delayed, the Morning Sun reported.

Get the Story:
Accomplice pleads in bizarre casino parking lot robbery (The Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun 3/5)