"Pequot leaders plead not guilty to theft charges
The former chairman of the Mashantucket Pequots and this brother, the tribe’s treasurer, have pleaded not guilty to charges that they stole more than $800,000 from the tribe. Former chairman Michael Thomas and his brother Steven appeared Monday afternoon in federal court in New Haven. The tribe owns and operates the Foxwoods Resort Casino on its reservation in Ledyard, Conn. Michael Thomas is accused of stealing more than $100,000 in tribal funds and federal grant money during his tenure as leader of the tribal council. Treasurer Steven Thomas is accused of stealing more than $700,000 when he was assistant director of the tribe’s natural resources department."
"Foxwoods patrons robbed of free slot play, police say
A group of people stole more than $90,000 from Foxwoods Resort Casino by fraudulently gaining access to the accounts of customers who were awarded free slot machine play, Connecticut State Police said. Foxwoods began investigating when a patron complained in September that $150 worth of bonus slot play had already been redeemed from her account, according to an arrest warrant affidavit for Antonio Cifizzari, 39, of New Britain. He was charged Friday with first-degree larceny, The Day of New London reported. Casino officials learned that the account had been used a few days earlier at a slot machine and reviewed surveillance video."
And the corruption of casinos is coming here. Great.
