Ex-Mohegan Sun Workers Charged In Pa. Casino Fraud Scheme

Investigators say they conspired with Robert Pellegrini, the former Vice-President of Player Development at the casino, to play slots for free and ripped off the casino of some $418,000.

By all accounts, it was an inside job at the Mohegan Sun Pocono casino in Luzerne County, Pa., where a combination of two casino employees and one frequent slots gambler allegedly added up to almost $900,000 in total losses on the slots.

Poszeluznyj and Heltzel were expected to turn themselves in on Wednesday, and Pellegrini was expected to turn himself in on Thursday.

Police say Mark Heltzel would gamble with the non-existent money, getting a payout of almost $419,000. One is free on bail, the other locked up. Spagnuolo, however, said he set bail at $500,000 due to the severity of the charges and Heltzel’s flight risk.

But attorneys got into a heated exchange during Heltzel’s hearing after Assistant District Attorney Tom Marsilio said prosecutors were OK with Heltzel posting 10 percent of bail but that they would leave the amount to the judge.

“Mr. Heltzel and I were given the opportunity to go to a bank to secure money for his 10 percent cash bail”, Fannick said.

The state police Bureau of Gaming said Poszeluznyj would collect players’ casino cards and PIN numbers when they paid for drinks. The duplicated cards were then allegedly given to Heltzel who allegedly downloaded the excess play and cashed out winnings.

Pellegrini is facing 177 counts including theft, identity theft, criminal conspiracy, winning by fraud, computer trespassing and misapplying trusted property.

According to affidavits filed in court Tuesday, state police began investigating the theft in April 2015 after a table dealer, Matthew Crane, alleged an ongoing scheme to defraud the casino.

President of Mohegan Sun Pocono Mike Bean told The Citizens Voice both Pellegrini and Poszeluznyj are no longer employed at the casino.