BUFFALO, NY – the Erie County District Attorney’s office is investigating allegations against a trio of casino cheats for committing gaming fraud at a Seneca Buffalo Creek casino blackjack table.
According to the District Attorney’s office, a 20-year-old woman working as a blackjack dealer at the casino was colluding with a player in order to allow the player to win thousands of dollars at the casino.
Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 20-year-old Emily M. Torres of Lackawanna and 28-year-old Mark M. Watson, Jr. of Buffalo were arraigned this morning before Buffalo City Court Judge Philip Dabney, Jr. on one count of Gaming Fraud in the First Degree (Class “E” felony).
A co-defendant, 34-year-old Rahat Hossain of Buffalo, was also charged with one count of Gaming Fraud in the First Degree.
“It is alleged that during the late evening of August 14, 2022 and into the early morning hours of August 15, 2022, defendants Hossain and Watson, while being aided by defendant Torres, fraudulently won thousands of dollars while playing blackjack at the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino on Fulton Street in the City of Buffalo,” the Erie County District Attorney’s office said in a statement today. “It is alleged that defendant Torres, while working as a blackjack dealer, showed her co-defendants the face of cards before their final decision of the round of play, giving an unfair advantage knowingly in violation of the rules of casino gaming.”
Watson paid full restitution of $5,287.50 to the casino at the time of his arrest on August 16. Hossain also paid full restitution, in the amount of $2,210.00, to the casino when he was arrested on August 21.
Temporary orders of protection were issued on behalf of the casino, which orders all three defendants to stay away from the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino and all other Seneca Gaming Corporation properties.