Cedar Rapids May Become the Next US City with a Casino
Three gambling stories from around the United States show several facets of Americans’ fascination with games of chance. One midwestern city is hoping to secure the rights to a casino license, hoping the gambling site will bring thousands of jobs to a recessed local economy.
Another news item shows just how much the people of this country love to gamble, even when those citizens are incarcerated for unrelated misconduct. A third new item shows what happens when one’s gaming fun goes too far, to the point of obsession. All three cases show the many faces of the US gaming industry.
Cedar Rapids May Get a New Race Track
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission will vote on Thursday to decide on the fate of a casino gambling license in Linn County. For three years, the people of Cedar Rapids and surrounding Linn County have sought to win the gaming license.
During that time, casino developers collected reliable investors and found a site for the proposed Cedar Creek Casino development at First Avenue and 1st Street. Voters in Cedar Rapids voted 61% to approve a new casino. The city held a pep rally on election day.
Various Interests Support the License
The financiers and land developers were not the only interests behind the project. The local trade unions gave their support, because of the thousand construction jobs which would be created by construction of the $130 million to $150 million casino.
On Wednesday, Mayor Ron Corbett and handpicked city council members traveled to site of the fateful Thursday meeting with the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. The Cedar Rapids city leaders even took a group of supporters with them. The meeting will take place before noon on Thursday, so the population of Cedar Rapids should know by the afternoon whether they’ve secured the job-making, revenue producing casino development or else three years of work was for naught.
Man in Albany Jail Gambling Ring Given Discharge
Timothy Robillard was given a one-year conditional discharge on charges that he and three other men set up a jailhouse gambling ring in the Albany County Jail. As part of his case, the 44 year old Mr. Robillard must forfeit the $25,000 in illegal winnings he made while the gambling ring was in operation.
Timothy Robillard was the last of the four men sentenced. Each of the other three, including a jail guard, were given conditional discharges, as well.
Nevada Official Stole $250,000 to Fund Gambling Activities
An employee of the Nevada Department of Transportation has been accused of stealing $250,000 in state funds to support his gambling habit. Tal Pierre Smith is alleged to have used a credit card which belonged to the Transportation Department to buy various items. Later, these items were sold or pawned to fund his gambling activity.
Investigators believe the crimes may have occurred over 3 years time. They believe Tal Pierre Smith altered receipts and other records to cover up his crimes. After investigating the misconduct, authorities brought a six-count indictment.
Discovered during a Hunting Trips
The purchases were discovered when Tal Pierre Smith went on a hunting trip, which caused him to be away from his job site in Fallon, Nevada. Durign that time, a chain saw was delivered to the transportation department facility in Fallon. When no one could account for who bought the chainsaw, the police were notified.
When the Fallon Police Department began to investigate, they found a list of 76 different pawnshops and used equipment businesses in western Nevada. When they searched Smith’s residence, they found more than a dozen of the purchased items still on his property.
Suspect Says He Has a Gambling Problem
Tal Pierre Smith eventually was questioned by an investigator for the Nevada Attorney General, Wayne Fazzino. During that questioning, Fazzino found probable cause, when Smith stated a reason he might need extra cash. The investigator said the alleged culprit said he “has a gambling problem and that he used the monies he generated from NDOT purchases to fund his gambling addiction.”
Mr. Smith is now charged with 4 counts of theft, 1 count of misconduct by a public officer, and 1 count of fraudulent appropriation of property. All charges are felonies, but the most serious charges are the four counts of theft. Each of these brings with a sentence of 1 to 10 years in prison, if convicted.
