Charges Dropped Against Ex-Controller of Casino
Charges were dropped against a former officer of the Crystal Park casino and another man Tuesday after a jury deadlocked over allegations that they stole $300,000 from the card club.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Andrew Kauffman dismissed the case against Eugene Aragon, 33, the club’s controller, and Jeffrey Platt, 37, with the jury leaning heavily toward the acquittal of both men.
According to lawyers for the defendants, the jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of acquitting Aragon and 10-2 to acquit Platt.
At issue during the four-day trial was $300,000 that defense attorneys contended Platt won in a bet with the owner of the casino. The district attorney charged that the money was embezzled.
“The jury believed my client when he stated that the $300,000 was the payoff from a bet,” said Gustavo Sztraicher, Platt’s attorney. “The jury system works.”
The jury announced that it was hopelessly deadlocked after two days of deliberations.
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