Previous Story
Poker attendant pleads guilty to stealing employer’s money
|
Posted on Feb 07 2006
A poker attendant accused of stealing $1,098 from his employer to play poker has entered a guilty plea on Rota.
Ricky Salibad Luis, 33, pleaded guilty to theft during a change of plea hearing in the Superior Court on Rota.
Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo accepted Luis’ plea and sentenced him to one year in prison, all suspended except for nine days.
Following a plea agreement, Govendo gave Luis nine days credit for the time he has already served in jail, placed him on one year of probation, and required him to perform 24 hours of community work service.
The judge ordered the defendant to pay $100 in probation fee and $25 in court assessment fee.
Govendo said that, if Luis complies with all the conditions, his judgment of conviction will be vacated.
The Attorney General’s Office charged the defendant with theft of property. He signed a plea agreement with the government.
According to the agreement, from March 25, 2005, through May 21, 2005, Luis stole $1,098 from his place of employment, Joker Wild Poker, in Puerto Rico. On May 26, 2005, the defendant’s brother repaid the amount.
Detective Alfred Celes stated in court papers that Luis admitted to a police officer during an investigation in May 2005 that he and fellow poker attendant, Willy Vinluan, have been taking money from poker funds at Joker’s Wild Poker since March 2005.
Celes said Luis confessed that he stole a total of $1,098, which he used to play poker.
Celes said Joker’s Wild Poker sought police’s help after finding that some poker funds from the establishment were missing. Vinluan, who allegedly stole $3,000, fled to the Philippines.
The Rota-based You Rim Corp. owns Joker’s Wild Poker, the Saipan Tribune learned.
