Lawsuit Alleges Former Resorts World Las Vegas President Allowed Criminals to Gamble with Stolen Funds
Date: 2023-10-13 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: EVENTS, PEOPLE
A recent lawsuit has been brought against Scott Sibella, who recently stepped down from his positions at Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV). While the resort did not provide specific reasons for his departure, it is believed to be related to a federal investigation into illegal gambling activities.
The suit was filed in the US District Court of Nevada by Robert J Cipriani, a California resident with a history connected to Resorts World. Cipriani alleges that both Sibella and Resorts World knowingly allowed patrons to gamble with money obtained through criminal activities, turning a "blind eye" to the source of these funds.
Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that Resorts World and Sibella were negligent and caused emotional distress to Cipriani.
In November 2021, Cipriani was involved in an altercation at the casino with Robert Alexander, who had previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and securities fraud. Although Cipriani faced charges of robbery and larceny related to the incident, these charges were dropped in May 2022.
The lawsuit asserts that despite Alexander's criminal history, he was permitted to gamble with stolen money at RWLV. Cipriani alleges that he directly informed Sibella and Resorts World about Alexander's presence on the casino floor.
The lawsuit also claims that Alexander subjected Cipriani to a "weeks-long campaign of harassment and intimidation."
Additionally, the suit includes evidence that Cipriani informed Resorts World of other criminals gambling within the facility. Screenshots of conversations between Cipriani and Joseph Tatonetti, the surveillance operations manager at Resorts World, show that in July 2021, Cipriani reported that Brandon Sattler and Edwin Ting were playing at the Resorts World casino.
Sattler is currently facing bankruptcy fraud litigation, while Ting was convicted of operating a high-stakes illegal gambling ring in New York in 2013.
Cipriani is seeking a trial by jury and is requesting compensatory damages, with the amount to be determined during the trial.
Sibella's Sudden Departure
Cipriani's lawsuit adds to the controversy surrounding Scott Sibella's alleged conduct. Resorts World stated that Sibella's departure was due to his violation of company policies and employment terms. Peter LaVoie, the senior vice-president and chief financial officer, has been appointed as president following Sibella's departure.
