Eleven people charged with cheating at Hollywood Casino Toledo

Five indictments were issued by a Lucas County grand jury today charging 11 people — including both an employee and a local man — with felony offenses relating to cheating at Hollywood Casino Toledo.

The indictments are the first criminal charges filed locally for criminal activity at the casino, which opened in late May.

Each of the indictments listed “unnamed casino felony offense” as the charge but the accompanying state law code indicated the type of offense being alleged. Each of the charges are fifth-degree felonies punishable by up to one year in prison.

Those charged include:

*Kyle Snow, 36, of Oregon, who is accused of removing a bet after it would have lost at the craps table.

*David Mason, 34, of Indianapolis, who is charged with illegally pulling a bet from the blackjack table.

*Sarhad Matti, 35, of Warren, Mich., who is accused of cheating in blackjack and then creating disturbances to retrieve the bet.

*Cordero Young, 23, of Southfield, Mich., who is employed as a dealer, and Toyree Hawthorne, 36, of Detroit, are each charged with three counts related to incidents on June 25 and 26. The two men were charged with cheating after Mr. Young was allegedly found to be placing fraudulent wagers for Mr. Hawthorne at a craps table where Mr. Young was working.

The final indictment listed six individuals from out of state who are alleged to have participated in “an organized roulette scam.” Louis Enrrique Abad, 31, of Patterson, New Jersey; Jose M. Beato, 33, of New York; Alexander R. Mootoo, 31, of Bronx, New York; Victor J. Rosado, 34, whose address is unknown; Katiuska Paulino-Manzuceta, 36, of Passiac, New Jersey; and Johanny Paulino-Herrera, 23, of Brewster, New York; were charged with a total of 29 felony counts for conspiring to cheat at the casino’s roulette table over a course of two days from May 31 to June 1.

Authorities said the Ohio Casino Control Gaming Agents arrested the suspects following extensive surveillance.

“One of the principle purposes of these casinos is to provide revenue to the State of Ohio so the laws that the legislature has passed cover casino violations will be enforced strictly by the Attorney General’s office and this office,” said John Weglian, chief of the special units division of the Lucas County prosecutor’s office. “We will enforce the laws of the state.”

Authorities said the crimes were captured on the multitude of cameras located throughout the casino. Mr. Weglian said warrants were issued for those charged who live out of state and that Mr. Snow would likely receive a summons to appear in court.