Six sentenced for stealing from Sault Ste. Marie Tribe's casino

Wednesday, March 12, 2014  

Six people were sentenced to federal prison for their role in stealing from a casino owned by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan.

Federal authorities say Joe Michael Koster, 63, was the ringleader. He admitted that he used a "light wand" to trick video poker machines into paying him more than he was owed.

Koster was sentenced to 36 months -- the most of the six defendants. Federal authorities say the five others acted as lookouts at the Kewadin Casino Hotel & Resort in Sault Ste. Marie.

In total, about $310,000 was stolen from the casino over a two-year period, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Western Michigan said in a press release.

All of the defendants are from Oklahoma.

Get the Story:
Six sentenced in casino theft (The Iron Mountain Daily News 3/10)
Six sent to prison in $300,000 video poker scheme at Northern Michigan casino (MLive 3/6)

Six charged for stealing from Sault Ste. Marie Tribe's casino (8/6)