Man pleads guilty to casino fraud
The Missourian created counterfeit gambling chips to swindle a casino near Grove.
By DAVID HARPER World Staff Writer
Published: 12/16/2009 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 12/16/2009 4:18 AM
A Missouri man pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing from an Oklahoma casino by creating counterfeit gambling chips.
William Reece Lancaster, 49, admitted bleaching legitimate 25-cent chips and then dying them to match the Seneca Cayuga Grand Lake Casino's $500 chips.
Lancaster would then take the counterfeit chips to the casino, near Grove, and introduce them into play at a blackjack table or exchange them for cash, according to a plea document filed in federal court in Tulsa.
Casino security officials eventually noticed a significant increase in the number of $500 chips in circulation and used surveillance to identify Lancaster as the culprit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Shores said.
Lancaster acknowledged in his plea documents that the casino is owed at least $27,236 in restitution.
The Webb City, Mo., resident is to be sentenced March 9 by U.S. Chief District Judge Claire Eagan.
He could face as much as 10 years in prison, but sentencing guidelines probably will call for no more than one year in prison, with probation a possibility, Shores and Federal Public Defender Julia O'Connell said.
Lancaster had been accused of conspiring with Mark Vernon Edmiston, 45, of Joplin, Mo., from Sept. 11 through Oct. 8. However, Eagan granted Shores' request to drop the charges against Edmiston on Tuesday.
Shores said Edmiston apparently didn't know the chips were counterfeit.
William Reece Lancaster, 49, admitted bleaching legitimate 25-cent chips and then dying them to match the Seneca Cayuga Grand Lake Casino's $500 chips.
Lancaster would then take the counterfeit chips to the casino, near Grove, and introduce them into play at a blackjack table or exchange them for cash, according to a plea document filed in federal court in Tulsa.
Casino security officials eventually noticed a significant increase in the number of $500 chips in circulation and used surveillance to identify Lancaster as the culprit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Shores said.
Lancaster acknowledged in his plea documents that the casino is owed at least $27,236 in restitution.
The Webb City, Mo., resident is to be sentenced March 9 by U.S. Chief District Judge Claire Eagan.
He could face as much as 10 years in prison, but sentencing guidelines probably will call for no more than one year in prison, with probation a possibility, Shores and Federal Public Defender Julia O'Connell said.
Lancaster had been accused of conspiring with Mark Vernon Edmiston, 45, of Joplin, Mo., from Sept. 11 through Oct. 8. However, Eagan granted Shores' request to drop the charges against Edmiston on Tuesday.
Shores said Edmiston apparently didn't know the chips were counterfeit.
