Prosecutors dropped all charges against Sabrina Eddy, a former Monarch Casino Resort and Spa employee at Black Hawk, in connection with Colorado’s $500,000 theft scandal. This decision follows the First Judicial District Attorney Office’s investigation into an extensive scam that targeted Eddy without her knowledge.

Sabrina Eddy Acted in Good Faith

Eddy worked as a casino cage cashier when she was caught on camera taking stacks of cash worth $500,000 from the casino vault in March 2023. But more facts about what happened that night presented another side to this story, reported The Denver Post.

According to reports, Eddy got a call plus texts from supposed high-ranking casino officials instructing her to move the money to an individual posing as a lawyer waiting at some nearby hospital so as not to breach a contract. In trust for the authority figures, she complied with these instructions without knowing they were part of an elaborate plot by international scammers.

Their intricate plan involved getting employees within casinos to transfer funds to individuals posing as representatives authorized by the establishments. Eddy, believing she was acting in the casino’s best interest, handed over the cash to a stranger who claimed to be the attorney in question.

Eddy’s Swift Action Helps Nab Casino Criminal

At some point, Eddy became suspicious and she immediately notified security personnel working there. Because of her quick action another criminal involved in the scheme named Juan Ivan Gutierrez Zambrano was apprehended later pleading guilty.

A warrant for the arrest of a third suspect, who is presumed to be outside the United States, has been issued, but it has been kept confidential. Authorities have chosen not to disclose whether any of the stolen funds have been retrieved.

Though it seemed like an open-and-shut case against Eddy, further investigation revealed evidence that proved her innocence. The prosecutors found out that she acted in good faith without gaining anything from the theft. Therefore, they regarded it as unethical to charge her.

The dismissal of charges marks the end of a tumultuous chapter for Eddy, who endured months of legal uncertainty following her arrest. The revelation of her innocence underscores the vulnerability of casino employees to sophisticated scams and highlights the need for heightened vigilance within the industry.

Monarch Casino Resort and Spa which is located in Black Hawk and is owned by Nevada-based Monarch Casino and Resort Inc., declined to give any comment about the court’s decision. 

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Cambodia’s Supreme Court has not shown leniency in the case of a labor union leader who organized one of the longest-running strikes against the country’s biggest casino, with the detainee, Chhim Sithar, alleging that NagaWorld laid off workers illegally and attempted to bust the union’s efforts to fight back.

No Reprieve for Determined Union Labor Leader

The Supreme Court found Sithar, president of the Labor Right Supports Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld, to have acted against the law, upholding his two-year prison sentence originally meted out in May 2023. Sithar was brought up on charges of incitement to commit a felony, and the court has now upheld the sentence, meaning that Sithar will have to serve out his sentence.

Sithar was the driving force behind the protests that erupted in December 2021, protesting mass layoffs at the NagaWorld Casino in the country’s capital, Phnom Penh and was finally arrested in January 2022, after refusing to back down and tell union workers to go home. NagaCorp has since recovered, demonstrating strong growth.

NagaWorld fired 373 employees as the casino faced the financial pinch of the pandemic and lack of tourists, which significantly depressed operational results and brought business to a standstill. Despite Sithar’s arrest, though, many of the fired workers continue to rally and protest both her incarceration and sentence, as well as the way NagaWorld and Cambodia’s legal system have treated the case.

Yet, some have opted out of settlements with the company, and some 200 ex-workers have already accepted settlements. Yet, others have not been so lucky. Sithar may have been dubbed a “ringleader” by the court, but she is not alone, as eight of her fellow union workers have also been handed down 18-month prison sentences as well.

Illegal Detention and Human Rights Champion

Sithar though is unlikely to be released earlier. She will end her sentence term later this year. She is also the recipient of the US Department of State Human Rights Defender Award and this distinction comes at a time when the United States has warned that doing business in Cambodia could pose significant risk to investors, alleging that corruption ran deep in the state.

Cambodia has vehemently denied these accusations.  Yet, the fate of Sithar is no way to assuage concerns about underhand practices that favor powerful businesses over citizens. NagaWorld began operations in 1994 and the casino is owned by the powerful Malaysian billionaire Chen Lip Keong and his family.

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The San Francisco Bay Area man purchased the ticket in a local liquor store only to find out that the ticket was worth $20 million. This happened during his launch break as a skycap at the local airport and playing the $30 “Set For Life” game.

$20M to Realize a Lifelong Dream

Commenting on his win, Hickman said that the adrenaline was amazing, and described it as the biggest rush of his life. The California State Lottery congratulated the lucky soul and officials expressed their hopes that the win would completely transform Hickman’s life.

One of the first things Hickman said he would do was to purchase a home for his wife and added that this was his biggest and lifelong dream. He has been a regular at Set For Life but always played it as a bit of habit, rather than truly hoping to win big, although he already won $1,000 from it previously.

The winning comes at the right juncture for the man who is going to finally realize this distant dream now turned into a tangible reality. L&M Liquor in Hayward, the store that sold the winning ticket, will also get a $100,000 bonus, as is customary in such cases.

Meanwhile, this is not the only big scratch winnings to have been won recently. Millions have been won playing all sorts of other scratch card games over the past days, including a $5 million jackpot won by one Teresa Martinez who scooped a 100x scratch ticket at a Morgan Hill gas station.

Jackpots Everywhere around California

Her winnings were announced at the same time as Hickman, with apparently a number of lucky souls winning at the same time. Another person, German Medina Zapata, won $5 million on a Premier 7’s scratch ticket, California lottery officials confirmed. The ticket was born at K&H Liquors in San Francisco.

Last but not least, the statement also announced a $1 million win by one The-Ah Lin who had purchased a Cloud 9 Scratchers in a Seafood City in Hayward and won. To round it all up, a pair of people, Eric Holtzman and Matoux De La Croix, won a $5 million jackpot playing Premier 7’s scratcher. The ticket was bought at a liquor store in San Francisco.

Earlier this month, a woman won $3 million in Colorado by purchasing a digital lottery copy of a ticket, the biggest in the history of the service that provided the ticket.

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The upcoming Oakland Athletic baseball stadium may force the Tropicana to close its doors for up to two years, threatening the livelihoods of its staff. Faced with this looming issue, the Culinary Union stood firmly on the side of the workers, pledging to protect their rights and support them in the event of a closure. While the ballpark project is still in its infancy, the union’s clear message should help alleviate the concerns of Tropicana employees.

The Ballpark Project Can Have Substantial Repercussions

Oakland Athletics’ recent announcement of a $1.5 billion Las Vegas stadium project reverberated across the industry, drawing mixed responses. Such a high-profile endeavor should significantly bolster tourism, drawing in sports fans and benefiting all surrounding properties. However, the planned stadium’s proximity to the iconic casino hotel means the Tropicana may temporarily need to close during construction.

A FAQ document by project partner Bally’s Corporation revealed that the Tropicana could cease operations between 18 to 24 months. The company issued an update soon after, clarifying it would keep the property open for as long as possible. However, a temporary closure will likely still be necessary, endangering the livelihoods of the venue’s approximately 120 employees.

Employee Rights Seem in Safe Hands

While Bally’s reiterated its commitment to supporting its employees, the Culinary Union also immediately stepped up, vowing to protect workers in the event of a closure. The union, representing thousands of hospitality workers in the region, has long been a staunch advocate for labor rights and fair treatment within the industry.

Such a pledge is a proactive measure to protect employees’ livelihoods and rights during any potential Tropicana downtime. Any laid-off workers should receive free job training, retain their benefits, and have guaranteed rehiring opportunities once the property reopens. Culinary Union secretary-treasurer Ted Pappageorge reiterated the organization’s commitment to negotiate a fair agreement with the venue.

Culinary Union members at the Tropicana Casino have a strong union contract, which means that Tropicana workers are protected.

Ted Pappageorge, Culinary Union secretary-treasurer

The Tropicana Las Vegas has been integral to the city’s vibrant hospitality landscape for decades. While the potential closure may cause substantial short-term disruptions, the Culinary Union’s efforts will ensure that employee rights will receive adequate protection. If the stadium project is successful, the long-term benefits should significantly outweigh the few months of closure.

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Sara Lee Moon, who has been working as a gambling manager at the Prosser Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, has been detained due to allegations of first-degree theft. Moon is being held at the Benton County Jail.

The Theft Was Discovered after Routine Check from Washington State Gambling Commission

Back in February 2022, the Washington State Gambling Commission performed a routine check at the Prosser Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. As part of this audit, all records related to gambling activities at the Post were inspected. 

As a result, the Washington State Gambling Commission quickly discovered that funds are missing. This led to a criminal investigation being conducted by the Commission, which took many months before Sara Lee Moon was identified as the main suspect.

Moon joined the Prosser Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in June 2019. Her job title was gambling manager and she was responsible for running the gambling and bar accounts. 

The investigation conducted by the Washington State Gambling Commission revealed that in this position of trust, she was able to defraud over $300,000. Moon created bank accounts to her name and was able to transfer some of the funds there. It took a large number of transactions spanning over a few years to steal such a large amount. 

It was discovered that Moon started her criminal activity not long after joining the Prosser Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. Moon took advantage of the fact that she was entrusted with confidence and responsibility by her employer and her position facilitated the execution of her crimes.

Moon Not the First Worker to Betray an Employer’s Trust

It is not the first time trusted employees betray the confidence instilled in them and steal money from their employers. Just last week an elderly Indianapolis church staff member was arrested on similar charges. Marie Carson, who was a business manager at the church, stole $573,836.59 from the church accounts, which mainly came from parish donations. Another recent case, saw two clerks from Flordell Hills, Missouri, stealing the whopping amount of $663,604 from the city’s coffers. The two women allegedly forged the mayor’s and the city treasurer’s signatures and issued over 600 checks to their names. They used the funds for gambling and paying their bills and taxes.

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