Man sentenced for bilking $7M from casinos
SAN DIEGO – A San Diego man who led a card-cheating ring that bilked dozens of casinos out of $7 million was sentenced Monday to nearly six years in federal prison.
Phuong Quoc Truong has acknowledged leading the ring, known as the “Tran Organization,” that targeted 27 casinos across the country, including three American Indian casinos near San Diego. The operation began in 2002.
Truong pleaded guilty in federal court in April 2008 to racketeering conspiracy. On Monday, he was ordered to pay $5.7 million in restitution and forfeit nearly $2.8 million in fines plus two homes, property in Vietnam, a 2001 Porsche Carrera, a Rolex watch and jewelry.
Truong bribed casino card dealers and supervisors to perform “false shuffles” when he or one of his associates signaled, creating “slugs,” or groups of unshuffled cards. Once the slug appeared on the table, the ring members knew the order of the next cards, and could bet accordingly.
Prosecutors also said the organization used hidden transmitters and software to predict the order in which the cards would appear in blackjack games.
The Department of Justice said 37 defendants have pleaded guilty to charges relating to the ring’s conspiracy.
Truong was also sentenced on separate charges that were transferred to San Diego from the Western District of Washington. The charges were related to cheating at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma.
More Stories
USF joins the Association of American Universities
USF has accepted an invitation to join the Association of American Universities (AAU) according to a universitywide email from President Rhea Law on Thursday morning. The AAU is a “prestigious” group in higher education composed of 71 research universities, according to the email. Member universities earn the majority of competitively awarded federal funding for research […]
Students pleased, concerned for DeSantis’ 2024 presidential run
When she found out Gov. Ron DeSantis had announced his run for the 2024 presidential election, international student Shaikh Raisa Afreen said she was scared of what lies in her future. “We know very well that he is not very lenient with diversity coming in over here. That’s maybe understandable. Maybe that’s good for the […]
BOT ACE committee approves grant application, degree termination
The Board of Trustees’ (BOT) Academics and Campus Environment (ACE) committee approved a grant application for the Eileen Hoffman Hafer UMatter program, an updated Master Plan for ONE USF and the degree termination of the Master’s in foreign language education in a Tuesday morning virtual meeting. UMatter is applying for a grant renewal of $2.5 […]
New Nursing/STEM building at Sarasota-Manatee campus in final design stages
USF is finalizing the design for the new Nursing/STEM building at the Sarasota-Manatee campus to expand its accelerated nursing program, according to Regional Chancellor of the Sarasota-Manatee Campus Karen Holbrook. The 75,000-square-foot building was designed by Willis A. Smith Construction – a general contractor from Sarasota – architects and an ideation committee of around 80-100 […]
BOT finance committee approves recreation fields relocation plans, capital improvement plan summary
In a virtual Tuesday morning meeting, the Board of Trustees (BOT) finance committee voted to approve a recreation field relocation plan and a five-year capital improvement plan summary to be sent to the Board of Governors for approval. Due to the construction of the new on-campus stadium, various currently-operational student recreational facilities will be displaced. […]
Judy Genshaft Honors College not operational due to supply chain delays
The new Judy Genshaft Honors College (JGHC) will not be operational until June 12 due to supply chain delays and to conduct systems checks, according to Director of Communication and Engagement Aaron Nichols. A sign on the doors of the JGHC reads “We appreciate your interest in our beautiful new building, but it is still […]