11 Indicted In Alleged Casino Bribery Scheme

SAN DIEGO -- A San Diego federal jury indicted 11 people for alleged involvement in a bribery scheme involving 12 casinos nationwide, including five owned and operated by local Indian tribes, over a five-year period, the Justice Department announced Friday.

The government alleges the defendants and unnamed co-conspirators formed and participated in a conspiracy called the "Tran Organization" from March 2002 to July 2007.

In San Diego and Riverside counties, the organization was active at three Indian gaming facilities -- the Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino in Lakeside, the Sycuan Resort and Casino in El Cajon and the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, court papers allege.

According to the one-count indictment, the defendants and unnamed co-conspirators bribed casino card dealers and supervisors to perform "false shuffles" during blackjack and mini-baccarat card games, creating "slugs" of unshuffled cards.

After tracking the order of cards dealt in a game, a member of the criminal organization would signal to the dealer to perform a "false shuffle," then members of the group would bet on the known order of cards when the "slug" appeared on the table, according to the indictment.

By doing so, members of the conspiracy repeatedly won thousands of dollars during card games, according to the government.

The indictment also alleges that members of the organization used sophisticated mechanisms for tracking the order of cards during games, including hidden transmitter devices and special software that would predict the order in which cards would reappear during baccarat and blackjack games.

In addition to the three Southern California locations, the government alleges the group operated at:

Beau Rivage Casino in Mississippi

Cache Creek Indian Bingo and Casino operated by Wintun Indians of Brooks, in Yolo County, Calif.

Emerald Queen Casino, an Indian gaming facility in Tacoma, Wash.

Gold Strike Casino in Mississippi

Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Mississippi

Isle of Capri Casino in Westlake, La.

Isle of Capri Casino in Bossier City, La.

Monte Carlo Resort & Casino in Nevada

Resorts East Chicago Hotel and Casino in Indiana

The indictment -- handed down Sept. 9 and unsealed Thursday – names Bryan Arce; Don Man Duong; Hogan Ho; Thang Viet Huynh; Outtama Keovongsa; Leap King, aka "Lanida Kong"; Que Le; Khunsela Prom, aka "Danny Prom"; James Root; Darrell Saicocie; and Dan Thich.

Each defendant faces a maximum of five years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit several offenses against the United States, including conspiracy to steal money and other property from Indian tribal casinos and conspiracy to travel in interstate and foreign commerce in aid of racketeering.

A similar indictment was returned in San Diego in May 2007 against Phuong Quoc Truong, aka "Pai Gow" John and John Truong; Van Thu Tran; Tai Khiem Tran; Anh Phuong Tran; Phat Ngoc Tran; Martin Lee Aronson, aka "Martin Smith"; Liem Thanh Lam; George Michael Lee; Tien Duc Vu; Son Hong Johnson; Barry Wellford; Willy Tran, aka "Duy"; Ha Thuy Giang, aka "Thuy Ha Giang"; and Han Truong Nguyen.

Each of the 14 were charged with one count of conspiracy to participate in the affairs of a racketeering enterprise; one count of conspiracy to commit several offenses against the United States, including conspiracy to steal money and other property from Indian tribal casinos; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The three-count indictment also charged five others with conspiracy to commit several offenses against the United States, including conspiracy to steal money and other property from Indian tribal casinos and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

To date, 17 defendants have pleaded guilty to charges related to the casino-cheating conspiracy, authorities said.

Han Truong Nguyen was sentenced May 12 to 27 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.9 million in restitution to designated victims in the case.