A former blackjack dealer at MGM National Harbor has been indicted for allegedly working with players to steal more than $43,000 from the casino. The charges were announced on June 6 by Prince George’s County State’s Attorney, Aisha Braveboy.

Surveillance Uncovers Ex-Dealer’s $43K Conspiracy with Players

Jamie Smith, 31, is accused of conspiring with three players to cheat the casino while she was employed there back in October 2023, reported WTOP News. Surveillance footage showed that Smith let these players see her cards before they made their betting choices and allowed them to change their bets after the cards were dealt and did not collect on losing ones, enabling the thefts.

An internal investigation by MGM triggered by a review of surveillance tapes uncovered the scheme. Approximately $43,250 in losses were incurred by the casino. 

Additionally, this incident also has broader implications, as MGM, along with other Maryland casinos, contributes to the state’s Education Trust Fund, which supports public education.

Maryland’s State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said economic crimes such as this have far-reaching consequences. She noted that when individuals steal from casinos it takes away funds meant for public schools thereby robbing children of their education opportunities. However, she highlighted that this case is unique during her tenure, as most incidents at the casino typically involve more direct forms of theft or violence.

Ex-Dealer Charged with Embezzlement and Theft, Faces Up to 10 Years in Prison

Assistant State’s Attorney Joel Patterson echoed Braveboy’s sentiments saying this crime was nonetheless serious because it amounted to theft as Smith was entrusted with handling money belonging to the casino while carrying out her duties. 

Smith has been indeed charged with theft, conspiracy to commit theft and embezzlement. She faces up to ten years in jail if convicted. The charges reflect not just the theft of funds, but also the breach of trust placed in her as a casino employee. 

MGM National Harbor released a statement following Smith’s indictment saying they have zero tolerance for any illegal activity involving their employees or customers.

The company commended the swift detection and reporting of Smith’s alleged crimes while emphasizing its commitment to maintaining the highest levels of integrity when dealing with law enforcement agencies during investigations into such matters.In other recent news, law enforcement in Prince George’s County, Maryland, is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred at the MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino. The victim, an adult male, was found with gunshot wounds in the casino’s parking garage and died of his injuries at the scene.

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Two individuals, Nathan Austad, 19, of Farmington, Minnesota, and Kamerin Stokes, 21, of Memphis, Tennessee, have been indicted for their roles in the November 2022 DraftKings cyberattack. They allegedly misused the illegally obtained data for personal gain, selling confidential information and inflicting damage on the operator and its clients. Joseph Garrison, a third co-conspirator, has already pleaded guilty.

The FBI Presented Substantial Evidence

Austad and Stokes, arrested on 29 January, face charges including conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, unauthorized access to a computer, wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and aggravated identity fraud. If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison. Their attack targeted roughly 60,000 DraftKinds accounts, gaining illegal access via other data breaches.

The attackers used various tactics, including registering new payment methods, to withdraw funds from victim accounts. They also sold access to the compromised accounts in bulk through underground shops, some of which they directly controlled. Stokes reportedly purchased access to accounts in bulk from Joseph Garrison, a third co-conspirator, amounting to over $125,000 in total value, and sold them via his online shop. 

Stokes advertised the compromised accounts on his shop through Instagram, contributing to the FBI’s investigation into the case. Authorities highlighted Austad’s use of artificial intelligence image generation tools to create images promoting his shop of stolen user accounts. Additionally, he managed cryptocurrency wallets that received approximately $465,000 in proceeds from credential-stuffing attacks and the sale of compromised data.

Gambling Operators Must Swiftly Adapt to Such Threats

Joseph Garrison, a core member of the hacking group, was indicted on 18 May 2023 for his involvement in the scheme. Garrison had already surrendered and pleaded guilty in November, awaiting sentencing on 1 February. Austad, Stokes, Garrison, and other collaborators are estimated to have collectively stolen about $600,000 from approximately 1,600 victim accounts.

DraftKings has reimbursed all the stolen money from customers, noting that the security of clients’ personal and financial information was vital to the company. The operator is another high-profile victim of cyberattacks and has taken extensive measures to prevent similar occurrences. Such attacks can have more than just a financial cost, damaging the company’s reputation.

Cyberattacks are growing increasingly more sophisticated, targeting all manner of businesses and posing a great risk to economic security.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith

This incident highlights the ongoing threats and challenges for online platforms, especially those in the gambling and fantasy sports sectors. Credential stuffing attacks remain a significant risk, emphasizing the need for robust security measures and user education to prevent unauthorized access to accounts. Hopefully, more operators will take notice of this case and take preemptive action, ensuring the safety of their customers.

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