Lottery Commission bans eight people from West Virginia gambling facilities
By SHELLEY HANSON, For The Weirton Daily TimesThe West Virginia Lottery Commission has compiled its inaugural list of people banned - for life - from entering the state's casinos.
John Melton, general counsel manager, on Monday said the lottery commission met last week and approved eight names of people who, because of table gambling-related convictions, will not be allowed to enter the casinos - unless they win an appeal from the commission or through the court system.
Three of the people are former casino employees, while five others were casino players, said West Virginia State Police Sgt. J.M. Andreas, who is charged with conducting table gambling investigations at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack and Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort in Hancock County.
One person on the list is Barbara M. Moore of Bellaire, a former Wheeling Island gambling machine attendant. She was convicted a few months ago in Ohio County Magistrate Court of petit larceny, Andreas said. She stole money from a patron while making change, he said.
Michael Taranto of Kings Park, N.Y., was a floor manager at the Wheeling Island track. Initially he was charged with felony bribery, and he later pleaded guilty to obtaining goods by false pretenses.
And Christopher Paesani of Follansbee, who was a table gambling dealer at Mountaineer, was convicted of petit larceny.
Five players on the list pleaded guilty to cheating: Hai Nguyen of Canton, Ohio, who was a patron at Wheeling Island; and former Mountaineer patrons Joseph Youssef of Lakewood, Ohio; Mark Baldin of Moon Township, Pa.; Michael Plutko of Monaka, Pa.; and Michael Smith of Cambridge, Ohio.
Melton said, according to state code, the commission approving the list was somewhat ceremonial, as from now on only the Lottery Commission director is charged with adding more names to the list.
"If someone thinks they have a compulsive gambling disorder, they can have their name put on the list," Melton said, noting the ban would last for a year. "If they think they made a mistake, they can go through an appeal process."
Andreas said his investigation begins when he is called by casino officials. Typically there is surveillance video, and often the misdeeds are witnessed by workers such as dealers, pit bosses, floor managers or the surveillance video workers.
Andreas said more people likely will be added to the list over time. He confirmed he arrested Kimanh Wayne of Munhall, Pa., Monday morning for allegedly cheating while playing blackjack Sept. 26 at the Island racetrack. Wayne turned herself in on a warrant, he added.
As in many court cases, defendants often get the chance to plead down their original charge to a lesser offense. However, Andreas said he wants people to know whether they steal a $25 chip or a $1,000 chip, it's all considered a felony, according to the state's table gambling laws.
"People don't realize it's a felony. Even if it's a dollar, it's a felony either way," Andreas said.
A felony conviction can result in a fine of $5,000 to $10,000, plus a jail term of one to five years.
Andreas noted some disagree with the State Police investigating table gambling crimes, but everyone has an interest in the tracks because of the money generated there, he said.
"People think the tracks have deep pockets. But it's not just the tracks that get the money, it's the taxpayers, too," Andreas said, noting the state of West Virginia receives 35 percent of the earnings. "If someone cheats and steals $100 - $35 of that is a loss" for the state.
