Two Plead Guilty for Conspiring to Defraud L’Auberge Casino in Lake Charles by Rigging Roulette Games

LAKE CHARLES, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a former dealer at L’Auberge du Luc Casino, Lake Charles, La., Derrick Weldon, 33, of Lake Charles, La., pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Also pleading guilty was a former customer at L’Auberge du Luc Casino, Constandi Lubbat, 54, of Houston, TX.

Derrick Weldon, Constandi Lubbat, Stephen Mouton, and Charbel Tannous were all charged in an indictment filed June 22, 2011, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In addition, Tannous was charged with seven separate counts of wire fraud. The indictment alleged that the four men conspired to defraud L’Auberge du Luc Casino by “rigging” roulette games. Weldon and Mouton were dealers at the casino who permitted Tannous and Lubbat to place late bets at the roulette wheel by allowing them to place chips after the ball had fallen into the winning number. This procedure, known as “past posting,” allowed Tannous and Lubbat to place chips on the number knowing it was already a winner. The wire fraud counts pertain to the use of telephones to set up the deal to arrange for Tannous and Lubbat to be at the casino and to arrange for Weldon or Mouton to be the dealers.

The indictment alleges that the casino lost over $1 million as a result of the conspiracy. Charges against Tannous and Mouton are still pending.

At sentencing, Lubbat and Weldon face a term of imprisonment of five years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

The case was investigated by the Louisiana State Police, Gaming Division, and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney James P. McManus is prosecuting the case.