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Shelly Esquer, 59, of Fort Dodge, Iowa won $3,898 from a slot machine on Dec. 30, 2022, at the Wild Rose Casino in Jefferson, according to Raccoon Valley Radio<\/em>, a regional news organization. She asked John Cook, 51, also of Fort Dodge, to collect the money, police said. Cook also allegedly filled out an IRS W-9 form.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nEsquer and Cook left the casino without the winnings. On January 3, she again entered the casino and tried to collect the money, police said.<\/p>\n
Esquer owed the state of Iowa $6,961. The winnings were used to pay part of her bill.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, Esquer was charged with two counts of gambling-avoid setoff and second-degree fraudulent practice. Cook was charged with the same counts, according to Raccoon Valley Radio<\/em>.<\/p>\nNathan Martin, 47, of Carroll, Iowa was arrested for two similar incidents at a casino in Jefferson earlier this month after he won two jackpots on slot machines.<\/p>\n
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On February 2, he hit for $2,007. Five days later, he won $2,160. Another person sat in Martin\u2019s place at the slot machines to collect the money for both wins, and both allegedly filled out W-9 forms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Martin owed the state of Iowa $89K and the jackpots were applied to his debt.<\/p>\n
Martin was charged with two gambling-avoid setoff counts, as well as second-degree fraudulent practice.<\/p>\n
McKensie Bess, 40, also of Carroll, who allegedly took part in the February 7 scheme, was charged with gambling-avoid setoff and second-degree fraudulent practice, too.<\/p>\n
Every suspect in the string of improper claiming of jackpots was booked at the Greene County Jail. Their cases were turned over to local courts for prosecution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Michigan officials confiscated 36 gaming machines and more than $23K after an illegal gambling raid last Thursday at Cozy Barcade in Delta Township. Items found include computers for gambling, slot-style gaming machines, table-mounted gaming machines, and a coin pusher, according to the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). Authorities launched an investigation after anonymous tips were […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":261013,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,60],"tags":[25,85170,13766,81932,81928,81863],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Casino Crime Round Up: \u00a0Michigan Gambling Devices, $23K Seized<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n