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A poker dealer at JACK Cleveland Casino has been fired and indicted after being accused of stealing chips from cash game pots, thanks to a sharp-eyed player and the casino’s surveillance system.
Jason Saliba, a 51-year-old Ohio resident, faces 14 counts of violating casino gaming laws, a fifth-degree felony, along with a misdemeanor theft charge. He was indicted on October 28, posted a $2,500 bond, and is scheduled for a pretrial status conference on December 3 in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
Allegations of Theft
JACK Cleveland Casino, known for hosting major poker events like the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT), employed Saliba as a dealer in its well-regarded poker room. The accusations surfaced during a September 6 game, when a player reportedly noticed Saliba pocketing chips from the pot and alerted casino staff.
Upon reviewing surveillance footage, staff allegedly confirmed the player’s claim. Further investigation revealed five additional incidents of chip theft during cash games. Authorities now allege that Saliba stole chips on 14 separate occasions over a one-month period. The total value of the stolen chips is said to be under $1,000.
Under Ohio law, thefts under $1,000 are considered misdemeanors, while amounts exceeding $1,000 are classified as felonies. Saliba’s felony gaming law violations could lead to up to 12 months in prison, while the misdemeanor theft charge carries a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail.
Saliba, a resident of a Cleveland suburb, was terminated immediately after the casino reviewed the surveillance footage and reported the incidents to the Ohio Casino Control Commission, which launched the investigation.
Source: https://www.pokernews.com/news/2024/11/poker-dealer-stole-chips-from-poker-room-47405.htm
Jason Saliba, a 51-year-old Ohio resident, faces 14 counts of violating casino gaming laws, a fifth-degree felony, along with a misdemeanor theft charge. He was indicted on October 28, posted a $2,500 bond, and is scheduled for a pretrial status conference on December 3 in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
Allegations of Theft
JACK Cleveland Casino, known for hosting major poker events like the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT), employed Saliba as a dealer in its well-regarded poker room. The accusations surfaced during a September 6 game, when a player reportedly noticed Saliba pocketing chips from the pot and alerted casino staff.
Upon reviewing surveillance footage, staff allegedly confirmed the player’s claim. Further investigation revealed five additional incidents of chip theft during cash games. Authorities now allege that Saliba stole chips on 14 separate occasions over a one-month period. The total value of the stolen chips is said to be under $1,000.
Under Ohio law, thefts under $1,000 are considered misdemeanors, while amounts exceeding $1,000 are classified as felonies. Saliba’s felony gaming law violations could lead to up to 12 months in prison, while the misdemeanor theft charge carries a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail.
Saliba, a resident of a Cleveland suburb, was terminated immediately after the casino reviewed the surveillance footage and reported the incidents to the Ohio Casino Control Commission, which launched the investigation.
Source: https://www.pokernews.com/news/2024/11/poker-dealer-stole-chips-from-poker-room-47405.htm
