Division of Gaming Enforcement
John J. Farmer, Jr., Attorney General
John Peter Suarez, Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 1, 2001

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Katherine Lyons (609) 777-2403

State Police Arrest Two for $20,000 Theft Through Casino Vouchers

ATLANTIC CITY - Attorney General John J. Farmer, Jr. and Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) Director John Peter Suarez announced the arrest of two individuals who allegedly took more than $20,000 in cash complementaries to which they were not entitled.

Director Suarez said that Jacqueline Silvestri, 32, of Ventnor and Hajes Rabaia, 43, of Atlantic City, allegedly discovered a computer flaw which allowed them to deduct cash complementaries from a computer kiosk at the Atlantic City Hilton without affecting the balance of the complementary account belonging to Silvestri. The deductions were wrongly taken from another patron's account, while the balance on Silvestri's account remained unchanged. The investigation by State Police assigned to DGE found that Silvestri and Rabaia made more than 250 transactions beginning in January 2001, when they discovered the flaw. Until their arrest Wednesday night, they obtained more than $20,000.

Various complementaries, such as meals, souvenirs, and vouchers holding cash value, are awarded to patrons based on their play in a casino and may be redeemed by presenting the "comp" card. The kiosk prints a voucher for cash complementaries, which can be inserted into a slot machine instead of cash.

"The State Police as well as Hilton surveillance staff and the slot promotions department deserve tremendous credit for uncovering this scam. You can't get something for nothing," Director Suarez said. "These arrests should send a message that – plain and simple – this type of activity is theft," Director Suarez said.

The Director said that the computer glitch which allowed the theft to occur has been corrected.

Director Suarez said that Silvestri and Rabaia were charged with third-degree theft by failure to make required disposition and released on their own recognizance. If convicted, they face up to 5 years in state prison and fines up to $15,000.

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