Posted by Miccosukee Resort & Gaming on Monday, June 26, 2017
Federal authorities announced charges against eight people accused of stealing more than $5 million in cash from the casino owned by the Miccosukee Tribe.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, four former employees of the Miccosukee Resort & Gaming stole the money by tampering with electronic machines at the facility. They were identified in a press release as Michel Aleu, 41; Lester Lavin, 43; Yohander Jorrin Melhen, 42; and Leonard Betancourt, 46. The other defendants aided in the scheme and benefited from it, according to federal prosecutors. They were identified as Maria Del Pilar Aleu, 39; Anisleydi Vergel Hermida, 30; Milagros Marile Acosta Torres, 33; and Yusmary Shirley Duran, 40. Together, the eight defendants face a total of 63 charges of computer fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, and making false statements to law enforcement, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in highlighting a criminal enterprise that ran from January 2011 through March 2015. Miccosukee Resort & Gaming is a Class II gaming facility. It offers bingo and electronic versions of bingo.