A Las Vegas woman has been handed a prison sentence for orchestrating a dangerous hoax that sent panic through a busy casino and triggered a massive armed police response.
Ann White, 66, was sentenced to a year in a Nevada jail after she falsely claimed she had been shot, sending casino patrons and staff into a terrified frenzy and squandering precious law enforcement resources.
The Costly Casino Joke
The incident unfolded at the popular Dotty's casino location on Boulder Highway. White, in what was later described in court as a 'joke', deliberately fabricated a story about an active shooter, claiming she had been wounded in the arm.
Her false report prompted an immediate and serious response. Armed officers swarmed the establishment, desperate to locate a non-existent gunman and secure the safety of the public. The casino was thrown into lockdown, with customers fearing for their lives.
A Trail of Deception and Wasted Resources
Investigations quickly revealed the truth. Surveillance footage showed White was entirely unharmed and had not been shot. Police discovered she had even gone as far as to use a pen to fake a wound on her arm to make her story more convincing.
Authorities condemned her actions, highlighting the immense strain such false reports place on emergency services. The response involved multiple police units who could have been dealing with genuine life-threatening emergencies elsewhere in the city.
Justice Served Behind Bars
Facing the consequences of her actions, White pleaded guilty to a charge of initiating a false report of an emergency. During her sentencing, the judge emphasised the severity of causing mass public alarm.
In addition to her 12-month jail term, White was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. The case serves as a stark warning about the serious legal repercussions of pulling such dangerous and disruptive pranks.
