A gambler who had already been banned from a casino for nearly a century allegedly used a concealed vibrating device to cheat slot machines out of cash, according to prosecutors.
Alleged cheating scheme
Jeremiah Kevin Villegas, 33, has been accused by the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney's Office of using the hidden device to steal coins at the Northern Quest Resort and Casino in Airway Heights, Washington, approximately nine miles west of Spokane.
According to the Spokesman–Review, Villegas would allegedly cash out and then continue pressing against the sides of the slot machines to trigger bonus rounds. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Villegas' hands inside his sweatshirt pocket while he cheated, and also captured him kicking the sides of the machines, as per court documents cited by the outlet.
The alleged incidents occurred over a nine-day period from August 26 to September 3 of last year and were observed by multiple agents of the Kalispel Tribal Gaming Agency.
Previous ban and threats
Villegas was arrested on October 12 and initially charged with 14 counts each of second-degree burglary and first-degree cheating. However, the charges were later reduced to one count of second-degree cheating and one count of second-degree burglary.
In June of the previous year, the Kalispel Tribal Gaming Agency had already banned Villegas from all their properties for 99 years due to assaults, threats, and 'pushing and kicking' slot machines, according to the outlet. When he was banned, Villegas had allegedly made repeated threats to the gaming agency via phone and email, concerning a slot shift manager who had contacted him about his behavior at the machines.
It is not immediately clear how Villegas managed to enter the casino last year despite the ban.
Legal consequences
Second-degree cheating, a gross misdemeanor in Washington, carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail. In contrast, first-degree cheating could have led to up to five years in prison.
Villegas was arraigned on November 5 at Spokane County Superior Court, where his bond was set at $5,000 on April 13 of this year, as reported by the Spokesman–Review. His trial is scheduled to begin on May 26, and he remains at the Geiger Corrections Center.
Rarity of cheating cases
Cheating cases are relatively uncommon in Spokane, with the county's prosecutor handling only three such cases over the past six years. Meanwhile, the Washington State Gambling Commission investigates 20 to 30 cheating cases annually. From January through April of this year, commission agents investigated 52 cheating cases, none in Spokane County, and seven resulted in criminal charges.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and the Kalispel Tribal Gaming Agency for further comment. An attorney for Villegas was not immediately listed in court records.
