Couple Scams Man Out of Money in Gambling Scheme

Authorities are looking for a Port Isabel couple after they allegedly swindled more than $20,000 from investors in a false scheme to bring back offshore gambling boats to South Padre Island.

A Cameron County grand jury indicted Anthony Alan Scaglione and Dorothy Scaglione on misapplication of fiduciary property and securing the execution of a document by deception charges on May 24.

The couple failed to appear for a Thursday afternoon arraignment in the 138th state District Court, prompting authorities to revoke a preset bond and issue a warrant for their arrests.

Prosecutors did not return calls for comment on the case, but Port Isabel resident Kennan Parish said he and his mother lost $20,200 and their family home to a false investment scheme to bring back offshore gambling boats to South Padre Island in 2004.

"I want to see them rot in jail, I want a public apology and I want my mother's money back," Parish said. "I want to see them in handcuffs."

The Scagliones could not be reached for comment, but public records show they lived at homes on Gulf Boulevard on South Padre Island, Trout Avenue in Port Isabel and Ocelot Trail in Laguna Vista.

Parish said the couple also use the aliases "Paul and Diana Blangin," while public records show that the couple used to live in Chicago where several lawsuits having been filed against both sets of names.

Parish said the couple used their roles as operators of the "Casino Del Mar" casino boat to gain his family's confidence and make their false investment scheme appear legitimate.

According to Herald archives, the "Casino Del Mar" took tourists into international waters to gamble but was shut down and moved to Corpus Christi in 2000.

Parish said he thought he was going to be a partner in the couple?s new enterprise back in September and October 2004.

"One day, I went to the office, and my key didn?t work," he said. "I found out from Bennie Ochoa, who owned the building, that they hadn't paid rent on their office space since June."

Anyone with information on the couple's whereabouts is asked to call the Cameron County Crime Stoppers hotline at (956) 350-5551.

July 2, 2006
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com    Previous Page | Internet Gambling | Top Online Casinos | Submit News!