Former Live! Casino & Hotel Employee Confesses to Misusing Complimentary Perks
Ex-Employee Admits to Casino Compensation Fraud
Two former staff members at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland have been implicated in a fraudulent scheme involving the misuse of complimentary rewards intended for guests. One individual, 27-year-old Sonejah Richards from Forestville, has acknowledged participating in a scam that resulted in $27,000 in illicit gains at the Hanover-based casino.
Details of Richards’ Legal Outcome
Following his guilty plea to two counts of theft—each ranging between $100 and $1,500—Richards received probation before judgment. This means the court delayed a formal conviction while he complies with probation stipulations. He was handed a two-year supervised probation term and ordered to repay $9,848 to the casino and hotel by October 7, 2027.
Upon full restitution payment, his probation will transition to an unsupervised status. As part of an agreement, other potential theft and identity fraud charges against Richards were dropped.
Mechanics of the Fraudulent Scheme
This latest development builds upon an investigation spanning several months. Alongside Richards, another ex-employee named Allen Hill from Washington, DC was apprehended earlier in May on allegations of misappropriating over $27,000 from Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland.
Both employees served as live dealers and VIP hosts, positions that granted them the power to allocate complimentary perks such as coupons and rewards to customers. Typically, these perks aim to encourage guests to extend their stay and gaming activity.
However, Richards and Hill exploited this privilege by creating fake player accounts, particularly focusing on two main accounts, to funnel casino resources unlawfully. They assigned comp points multiple times to the same fraudulent users, who then redeemed free slot credits and withdrew the generated winnings.
In February, Richards issued around 30 illegitimate player reward cards, costing the casino an estimated $20,000 in losses. Similarly, Hill conducted parallel actions in March, activating roughly 20 reward cards that resulted in approximately $7,300 in casino deficits.
Other Recent Security Incidents at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland
In separate news, police in Anne Arundel County detained a man from Upper Marlboro after locating his SUV near Arundel Mills packed with firearms, stolen handguns, ammunition, and body armor.
