Texas man sentenced in casino roulette scheme www.privateofficer.com

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Lake Charles LA Oct 42012 U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that Charbel Tannous, 34,of Katy, Texas,the reported leader of a group who conspired to defraud L'Auberge du Lac Casinoin Lake Charles,was sentenced on Sept. 27.
According to a news release from Finley, the sentencing washanded down by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi who ordered Tannous toserve 37 months in federal prison, three years supervised release and to pay$909,700 in restitution.
According to court records, Tannous; Constandi Lubbat, 55,of Houston, Texas; Derrick Weldon, 44, of Lake Charles; and Stephen Mouton, 45,of Iowa; were all charged in an indictment filed June 22, 2011, with conspiracyto commit wire fraud.
In addition, Tannous was charged with seven separate countsof wire fraud. Tannous was the creator of the scheme to defraud the casino. Thescheme involved "rigging" roulette games by bribing Weldon andMouton, who were dealers employed by the casino.
Finley said the dealers permitted Tannous and Lubbat toplace late bets at the roulette wheel. This procedure, known as "pastposting," allowed Tannous and Lubbat to place chips on the number knowingit was already a winner.
Tannous also forfeited approximately $50,000. FBI agentsseized $10,000 in cash and almost $40,000 in cashiers checks when they arrestedTannous at the Bush International Airport,Houston, Texas,when he was attempting to flee the U.S.en route to Beirut, Lebanon.
There is no extradition agreement between the United States and Lebanon.
Lubbat, Weldon and Mouton have all previously pleaded guiltyto the same charges.
On Sept. 6, 2012, Judge Minaldi sentenced Derrick Weldon tofive years probation and ordered him to pay $831,900 in restitution. Sentencingfor Stephen Mouton is scheduled for Oct. 18, and the sentencing of ConstandiLubbat is continued without date.
"We are very pleased with the court's decision to givethis defendant a significant prison term. The casino and the citizens werevictims in this case. A portion of the profits from the casino goes to theState of Louisianaand the Calcasieu Parish School Board. We will continue to partner with ourlocal, state and federal law enforcement partners to prosecute crimes of thisnature and seek the maximum amount of prison time available," Finley said.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation, Lake Charles Resident Agency, and the Louisiana State Police,Gaming Division, with the assistance of the Security Division of L'Auberge duLac Casino. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States AttorneyJames T. McManus.
Source:kplc