Ex-Casino Worker Faces Embezzlement Charges
The former card room manager at the Cabazon Indian casino in Indio was indicted by a federal grand jury Friday on charges of embezzling $17,200.
A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles said Robert Nichols, 46, actually may have stolen more than $500,000 while employed at the Fantasy Springs Casino from 1996 to 1999.
Nichols’ brother, Mark, is chief executive officer of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, which owns the casino.
Federal prosecutors charged that Robert Nichols presented hundreds of fictitious “paid-out slips” to the card room cashier requesting reimbursement for tournaments and promotions that never occurred.
Nichols and his lawyer could not be reached for comment.
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