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WILKES-BARRE — A former Mohegan Sun Pocono casino executive and a Back Mountain man who won more than $422,000 in a gambling scheme, folded Thursday, pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Robert Pellegrini, a former vice president of player development at the casino, and Mark Heltzel face up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine under the maximum terms of their plea agreements to the felony charge. The men also agreed to make full restitution.

Pellegrini, 50, of Fairview Township, and Heltzel, 52, of Dallas, declined comment as they left the Max Rosenn Federal Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo allowed them to remain free on their own recognizances and set a sentencing date of April 12.

A third participant, former cocktail waitress Rochelle Poszeluznyj, pleaded guilty to an identical charge in September and is awaiting sentencing.

A federal grand jury indicted the men in April, alleging they conspired with Poszeluznyj in the scheme that ran from May 2014 to April 2015 and involved personal identification numbers stolen from approximately 160 gamblers.

According to the indictment: Poszeluznyj stole the PINs from the rewards cards of patrons she served and gave the information to Heltzel, with whom she had a personal relationship. Heltzel in turn gave the information to Pellegrini, who duplicated the cards and put approximately $478,000 free-play credits on the duplicates. The cards are used in slot machines and gain points to be cashed in for casino perks such as free drinks and hotel rooms. Heltzel gambled with the cards and split $422,147 with his partners. He and Pellegrini took the largest shares.

An investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Internal Revenue Service uncovered the scheme.

Mark Heltzel, 52, of Dallas, Thursday admitted his role in a gambling scheme that netted more than $422,000 from the Mohegan Sun Pocono casino and is free pending sentencing in federal court next April.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_casinoheltzel-1.jpg.optimal.jpgMark Heltzel, 52, of Dallas, Thursday admitted his role in a gambling scheme that netted more than $422,000 from the Mohegan Sun Pocono casino and is free pending sentencing in federal court next April. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader

Former Mohegan Sun Pocono executive Robert Pellegrini, 50, of Fairview Township pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to a felony charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a gambling scheme at the casino in Plains Township.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_casinopellegrini-1.jpg.optimal.jpgFormer Mohegan Sun Pocono executive Robert Pellegrini, 50, of Fairview Township pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to a felony charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a gambling scheme at the casino in Plains Township. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader

By Jerry Lynott

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Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.