Former Pit Boss, Two Blackjack Dealers, and a Player Indicted For Cheating Conspiracy at Dakota Sioux Casino

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that four individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy and Theft by Employees of a Gaming Establishment on Indian Land.

Lito Banbilla Bolocon, age 44, and Fern Freya Gill, age 52, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on March 30, 2017, and pled not guilty to the Superseding Indictment. Jeremy Kris Brown, age 43, appeared before Magistrate Judge Gerdes on February 23, 2017, and pled not guilty to the Indictment. Jordan Anthony Rondell, age 29, appeared before Magistrate Judge Gerdes on April 4, 2017, and pled not guilty to the Superseding Indictment.

The maximum term of imprisonment upon conviction is up to 5 years for Conspiracy and up to 20 years for Theft by an Employee of a Gaming Establishment on Indian Land. Each offense also carries a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The Dakota Sioux Casino (“DSC”) is a gaming establishment located approximately five miles north of Watertown, in Codington County, South Dakota. The DSC is also located on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation and is operated by the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe.

According to the Superseding Indictment, Bolocon worked at the DSC as a pit boss, and Brown and Gill worked as blackjack dealers. Rondell was a customer of the DSC whom frequently played blackjack.

As alleged, in December 2015 and through January 1, 2016, Bolocon, Brown, Gill, and Rondell conspired to enrich themselves by unlawfully obtaining gaming chips and money from the DSC. Specifically, in December 2015, Defendants devised a plan to cheat the DSC of monies derived during the gambling operations taking place on New Year’s Eve 2015 and into January 1, 2016. The agreement was for Rondell to unlawfully make a large sum of money from illegitimate winnings paid by Brown and Gill, and Rondell would then pay-off the other defendants for their participation. Rondell cashed-out approximately $10,000 from the DSC after playing at Brown’s and Gill’s respective blackjack tables, which were supervised by Bolocon.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe’s Gaming Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.

Bolocon, Gill, and Brown were released pending trial. Rondell was detained. A trial date has been set for June 6, 2017 for Bolocon, Gill, and Brown. A trial date for Rondell has not been set.