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PLAINS TWP. — Two employees and one patron of Mohegan Sun Pocono were charged Tuesday with fraud involving free slot play.
According to police, former Vice President of Player Development Robert Pellegrini, 50, of Fairview Township, beverage server Rochelle Poszeluznyj, 37, of Kingston, and player Mark Heltzel, 51, of Dallas, played $487,100 in slot play. They allegedly cashed out winnings of $418,792.55 from the fraudulent slot play.
From May 2, 2014 to April 4, 2015, Pellegrini would allegedly receive players’ cards and pin numbers from Poszeluznyj, who allegedly duplicated the card and added fraudulent free play in excess of the owners’ allotted amounts. The duplicated cards were then allegedly given to Heltzel who allegedly downloaded the excess play and cashed out winnings. The trio then allegedly split the winnings.
Police said Heltzel would only play the fraudulent excess amount on the cards, leaving the patrons’ usual slot play amount, so as to not alert the card owner.
Arraignment for the defendants is expected to be Wednesday in front of Magisterial District Judge Joseph D. Spagnuolo Jr.