Ex-Iowa Casino Dealer Fined, Must Make $11K Restitution for Repeated Cheating

Posted on: March 7, 2024, 11:41h. 

Last updated on: March 8, 2024, 11:02h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

A former card dealer at Iowa’s Catfish Bend Casino will avoid prison if he completes his five-year probation for a cheating scheme involving seven players, under a recent sentence.

Iowa's Catfish Bend Casino
Iowa’s Catfish Bend Casino, pictured above. A former dealer there was sentenced to probation after a cheating scheme. (Image: Catfish Bend Casino)

Trevor McCannon, 22, of Burlington, Iowa must pay a $1,025 fine and reimburse the casino $11,185 for the plot, according to The Hawk Eye, an Iowa news outlet. He also has to pay court costs, according to the sentence handed down by District Eight Judge Shane Wiley.

If the defendant fails to complete his probationary period, he could face time in jail or additional fines. He also will have to routinely report to judicial staff to ensure he is complying with the conditions set down by the judge.

Eight Initial Charges

Initially, McCannon was charged with three counts of second-degree theft, two counts of third-degree theft, and three counts of fourth-degree theft for the wrongdoing.

During a court appearance, he pleaded not guilty to the multiple counts.

On January 8, McCannon then pled guilty to the second-degree theft charge under a plea deal.

The charges were a result of him making mistakes (intentionally, not by accident) and paying out on losing hands, according to the Hawk Eye. The cheating stems from incidents that date back to last June.

Facebook Messages

Officials were able to get a warrant and confiscated McCannon’s cell phone, which showed Facebook messages sent on June 23 to a player at the property.

“U able to spot me 25?” one of the messages stated. “And I will get you back tonight at the casino on the tables,” a second message said.

A thumbs-up emoji was posted in response by the player.

Next, McCannon responded, “Thank you brotha are a saint,” court records revealed.

CashApp transactions totaling $175 were made by the same player on June 17, 19, and 23.

On October 4, a judge approved a warrant for McCannon’s arrest. In total, he stole $11,185 through his wrongdoing at the casino, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said in an arrest report.

McCannon was hired at the casino in February 2023 and was trained for over a month before he began working as a card dealer. He worked on such table games as blackjack, free bet blackjack, Mississippi Stud, Four Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold Em’, and Pai Gow.

There’s no word if the seven players reportedly involved in the scheme are under investigation, or if they will be charged.