Pair of Poker Card-Swapping Cheats Go Down in Pennsylvania Casino

Source: Lehigh Valley Live

Two people were arrested Friday at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem after police say they were caught cheating at poker.

Pennsylvania State Police based at the Gaming Enforcement Office inside the casino say Jose L. Rodriguez, 46, of Hialeah, Fla., and Sandro Alonso, 38, of Guttenberg, N.J., were seen swapping cards with each other while playing Texas Hold 'Em Poker.

Alonso told authorities he and Rodriguez also have cheated at Texas Hold 'Em before at Sands and also at Mohegan Sun in Luzerne County, according to court records. Alonso said he started cheating at cards a couple of months ago to earn extra money, records say.

Both men were charged with four counts of cheating, attempted theft by deception and conspiracy to commit theft by deception, according to a news release.

Rodriguez also allegedly had four counterfeit American Express credit cards and was also charged with four counts each of access device fraud, forgery and tampering with records or identification.

Both men were arraigned and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.

My take: $25,000 is a high bail for a casino or poker cheating crime. I guess they're taking it seriously in Pennsylvania...even with amateur poker cheats.