One of the individuals accused in a Gold Eagle Casino card game cheating scandal has received a conditional discharge following a guilty plea Monday.
Xiajun Zhuang pled guilty to theft under $5,000 in connection to card-cheating at Gold Eagle Casino between October 2008 and January 2009. Zhuang received a conditional discharge sentence from judge David Kaiser Monday morning in North Battleford Provincial Court, for a period lasting five months. Among the terms of the sentence is a provision for Zhuang to pay $1,500 restitution to Gold Eagle Casino by Oct. 31 and he is not allowed to go near the premises of any Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority casino.
Zhuang was originally charged with theft over $5,000, but pled guilty to the lesser charge. One other charge of cheating at play was dropped.
Meanwhile, two others charged in the case, Christopher Stone-Spyglass and Ken Mark, saw their matters adjourned to Sept. 28 at 10 a.m., also in provincial court. The Crown indicated that Stone-Spyglass, who was the dealer working at the casino, will likely face more serious consequences for the alleged activity.
Local lawyer Randy Kirkham appeared for Stone-Spyglass and also as agent for Mark's attorney.
Zhuang was one of six individuals who, the Crown alleged, took advantage of cheating by the card dealer on duty at Gold Eagle Casino. In his submission in court Monday, Crown prosecutor Mitch Piche stated the table dealer had used his position to cheat the employer by giving an unfair advantage to the players.
The dealer was alleged to have falsely shuffled cards and also flashed cards to players so the offenders would know which cards would be played and be able to take advantage. The games involved were card games including blackjack and poker. During the blackjack games it is alleged the dealer also tipped off the players when to buy insurance to minimize losses.
Zhuang was one of the individuals to take advantage of the activity. However, Piche said Zhuang was "not at the top end of culpability," as it was alleged the dealer and another of the players had greater responsibility for the loss to the casino.
Zhuang he told Judge Kaiser Monday he would pay back the $1,500 he obtained from the casino.
His lawyer, Wei Wu, appearing by conference call on Xhuang's behalf, called for a lighter sentence. Wu argued the trouble had been initiated by the casino dealer and noted his client didn't really understand what the dealer meant. Wu also noted his client had no prior criminal record.
The judge's sentence falls in the middle range of what defence and Crown counsel had been asking for. Defence counsel had called for a three-month conditional discharge sentence while the Crown called for eight months.
Overall, seven individuals were charged in April with theft and cheating-at-play in connection to the casino. Four others in the case have seen their matters dealt with already in court.
Two others, Wade Wang and Reuben Bear, were each sentenced in July and ordered to pay restitution to Gold Eagle Casino. Wang pled guilty to cheating at play and received a one-year conditional discharge while Bear pled guilty to a theft charge and received one year probation. Both are also barred from the casino premises.
Charges against Ceciellia Swiftwolfe were dropped around the same time while charges against Christopher Belanger were stayed.
