TRENTON
- Attorney General Peter C. Harvey and
Vaughn L. McKoy, Director, Division of
Criminal Justice, announced that the Division
of Criminal Justice - Casino Prosecutions
Bureau has charged a Virginia lawyer with
laundering more than $250,000 in stolen
funds through an Atlantic City casino.
The charges, which include second degree
money laundering, result from the theft
of more than $436,000 from a Virginia
law firm.
Attorney General Harvey noted that the
Division of Criminal Justice, in concert
with the Division of Gaming Enforcement,
targets theft, fraud and illegal activities
that impact New Jersey's casino industry.
"The Attorney General's Office is
committed to aggressively pursuing casino-related
crime. Anyone who violates the strict
rules governing financial transactions
in New Jersey's gaming industry by attempting
to launder stolen monies through Atlantic
City casinos will be identified, arrested
and prosecuted," said Attorney General
Harvey.
According to Criminal Justice Director
McKoy, a State Grand Jury indictment obtained
by the Casino Prosecutions Bureau charged
Robert Short, 37, North First Street,
Arlington, VA, with money laundering and
receiving stolen property. Short faces
up to ten years in state prison and a
fine of up to $150,000 if convicted on
both counts of the criminal indictment.
Short is a fugitive from justice and has
been placed on the Division of Criminal
Justice "12 Most Wanted Fugitive
List." Short is a white male, 6'0"
tall and weighing approximately 225 pounds.
He has brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone
with information on the whereabouts of
Robert Short is encouraged to contact
the Division of Criminal Justice Fugitive
TipLine at 866-TIPS-4CJ (866-847-7425)
or State Police Det. James Pearson assigned
to the Casino Investigations Bureau at
(609) 441-7464. All information will
remain confidential.
"This
indictment alleges that the defendant
hatched a scheme to deposit a quarter
million dollars in stolen funds on deposit
with an Atlantic City casino and, after
a minimal loss at the gaming tables, to
withdraw the cash and flee the state,"
McKoy said.
The State Grand Jury indictment alleges
that on Feb. 21, 2003, Short wired $250,000
from a personal checking account to the
Taj Mahal Casino. On Feb. 22, it is alleged
that Short arrived at the Taj Mahal Casino
and withdrew a $10,000 casino marker.
The investigation determined that Short
gambled briefly at roulette and, after
losing approximately $1,000, withdrew
the remaining $240,000 from the casino.
The investigation revealed that Short
had no gambling history at the Taj Mahal
Casino and, given the minimal gaming activity,
casino authorities notified the Division
of Gaming Enforcement of the suspicious
activity.
On March 4, law enforcement officials
from the Thomas County Sheriffs Office
in Colby, Kansas, contacted the Division
of Gaming Enforcement/State Police Casino
Investigation Bureau regarding Short.
On Feb. 26, Short's vehicle was stopped
by Colby County Sheriffs Officers patrolling
I-70. The subsequent investigation by
the Thomas County Sheriffs office uncovered
a quantity of marijuana, hashish, a semi-automatic
handgun and $207,000 in cash in Short's
vehicle. Short was arrested and charged
with possession of illegal drugs and weapons
violations. Short was released from custody
on Feb. 27. The investigation next uncovered
information that Short, a lawyer and former
employee of the Law Office of Trapeni,
Romero & Morrison in Fairfax County,
VA, was wanted in VA on charges of forgery
and theft. It is alleged that Short stole
$436,000 from the Trapeni law firm.
The investigation was coordinated by the
Division of Criminal Justice - Casino
Prosecutions Bureau, the Division of Gaming
Enforcement and State Police Det. James
Pearson. Additional investigative support
was received from the Taj Mahal Hotel
& Casino. Deputy Attorney General
Kerry L. Menchen of the Division of Criminal
Justice - Casino Prosecution Bureau presented
the case to the State Grand Jury. The
indictment was handed up to Mercer County
Superior Court Judge Neil H. Shuster on
Nov. 21. The case will be assigned to
the Atlantic County Superior Court for
trial.
An indictment is merely an accusation.
The defendants are presumed innocent until
proven guilty in a court of law.
Additional information, including a copy
of the State Grand Jury indictment and
information on the Fugitive TipLine is
available via the Division of Criminal
Justice web page at www.njdcj.org.
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