High Roller Indicted On Charges Relating To Gambling Debt

It is one thing to be a high roller in a casino and have the money to do so. It is a criminal activity when a person is passing bad checks to pay for their expensive gambling lifestyle.

Terrance K. Watanabe has been indicted by a county grand jury for theft and passing bad checks in relation to a $14.7 million gambling debt that he has run up. Watanabe is said to owe Caesar's palace in Las Vegas $12 million, and the Rio $2.7 million.

The prosecution had the option to take the case to Las Vegas Justice Court, but instead chose to seek an indictment against Watanabe. Chief Deputy District Attorney Bernie Zadrowski did not want a long preliminary hearing, so they chose to go the route of an indictment.

In the past two weeks, witnesses have been paraded in by the District Attorney to testify before the Grand Jury. The witnesses ranged from pit clerks, to cage managers, to casino hosts.

Since the DA was only going for an indictment, the witnesses were able to tell their side of the story without cross-examination from the defense. Watanabe now will have the chance to answer the charges, and if it should go to trial, any witnesses called would have to be questioned by both the prosecution and the defense.

April 30, 2009
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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