Richard Taylor Protests Dismissal of Mohegan Craps Cheating Case Against Him
Satisfied with a ten-year prison sentence, state prosecutors announced on August 24th, 2009 that they would not pursue additional charges against convicted craps cheater Richard "Mr. Casino" Taylor.
Convicted of masterminding a craps scam and enlisting craps casino dealers at Foxwoods Resort Casino for his plan, 43 year-old Richard Taylor was facing additional criminal charges for craps cheating and trespassing at the Mohegan Sun casino.
He had petitioned for another trial, still declaring his innocence of the charges. Taylor said that he is not a cheater and he has a craps system that allows him to win most of the time. Casino dealers from Foxwoods casino and the lone casino dealer charged from Mohegan Sun are accepting plea agreement and suspended sentences in their craps cheating cases.
Taylor vehemently objected when state prosecutor Stephen M. Carney announced before the New London court that he was stopping prosecution in the Mohegan craps case nearing trial. Taylor said that he does not accept Carney's decision. He said that he wants to go to trial on this charges and he is not accepting a "nolle". He added that the case must go to trial or be dismissed by Judge Handy without prejudice.
Judge Susan B. Handy informed Taylor that he was dismissing the charges. When Taylor continued to argue, Judge Handy informed him that she was in charge of the courtroom and not Taylor. Judge Handy then ordered Taylor be removed from the courtroom.
Attorney Ralph U. Bergman, who represented Taylor in the craps cheating case, said that Taylor is appealing his conviction on charges of 1st-degree larceny cheating. He stated that several family members traveled from Tennessee to visit Taylor and lawyers. Bergman said that Florida, despite what Taylor may believe, cannot again pursue the charges in the Mohegan Sun craps cheating case. Taylor has vehemently denied that he cheated and insisted that he has his own craps system and often give huge tips to dealers.
Prosecutors said that the tips were actually payoffs for permitting late wagers in craps. In the game of craps, a late wager is one placed by the player after the worth of the dice is known.
2009-09-03
David M. Bedingfield
