Tran Organization
The Tran Organization was a criminal gang of casino cheats in the 2000s. The group targeted at least 28 casinos across the United States and one in Canada. The casinos lost around $7,000,000 to the organization. As of 2011[update], 47 people were indicted, of which 42 had already plead guilty, in relation to the conspiracy.[1]
The criminal enterprise started around August 2002 in San Diego, California, and included Van Thu Tran, her husband Phuong Quoc "Pai Gao John" Truong,[2] and Tai Khiem Tran.[1] Many other members of the Tran family were also involved in the organization.[3]
The organizers had themselves been card dealers.[2] The organizers bribed card dealers and casino supervisors to do false shuffles to create "slugs" of cards with already-seen sequences.[1] The system worked especially well with mini-baccarat, in which players are allowed to track cards openly. They later expanded to blackjack, in which the betting limits are higher but card counting is forbidden at most casinos; the group hid wireless microphones and earpieces on themselves to communicate with conspirators using computer programs to predict which cards would re-appear.[1][2]
Casinos often didn't realize they were being cheated until after the gang had already left town.[2] Some casinos, suspecting they were being cheated in an unknown way, called on government authorities. The FBI opened a case file in 2004.[3]
After Phuong Truong started shortchanging the colluding dealers out of their portion of the illegal money, some dealers became informants for the FBI.[2] In June 2006, Mississippi Gaming Commission agents posed as corrupt dealers and secretly videotaped a meeting with Truong, in which he bragged openly about the scheme and its success.[2]
The conspirators were rounded up in 2007.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Co-Founder of Casino-Cheating Criminal Enterprise Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy Targeting Casinos Across the United States" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs. January 14, 2011. Retrieved 2014-08-08.
- ^ a b c d e f McNiff, Eamon (May 25, 2012). "Real-Life 'Ocean's 11': How Agents Foiled a $7 Million Casino Scheme". ABC News Internet Ventures. Retrieved 2014-08-08.
- ^ a b "House of Cards: Casino Cheating Ring Dismantled" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2011-02-11. Retrieved 2014-08-08.
External links
- "Truong Under Surveillance" (video). CNBC LLC. — surveillance video of Phuong Truong meeting on June 8, 2006