Poker Writer
A Nevada man was sentenced to up to 30 years in prison after he stole almost $750K from local casinos. Sixty-one-year-old Thomas Tonar of Sun Valley, Nevada, was sentenced for six counts of embezzlement. Summing up the six counts, the sentence totaled 8 to 30 years.
Tonar had a history of working in casinos, having been employed by Dotty’s Casino. In June 2025, cameras showed him stealing cash from multiple Dotty’s locations. In total, Tonar embezzled from six different locations, equaling $714,713.
Tonar did not take much care in concealing his tracks, as authorities were able to quickly follow him over the state line into California. Law enforcement worked together and apprehended the on-the-run Tonar in Sacramento, California, at a motel. The authorities were able to recover most of the stolen money, reeling in more than $677,000 from the suspect.
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Reaction to Sentencing
Some people noted the harsh penalty for a non-violent crime. The 30-year sentence is effectively a life sentence for the 61-year old as he will now most likely spend the rest of his years behind bars.
One commenter on the story the Fox News 4 report noted the severity of the punishment in comparison to other similar cases:
I’m sorry, but why can’t he get the 5 year suspended sentence with probation that so many …. get for embezzling from their employer ….. It’s not that I sympathize with the guy, it’s that there’s not equal justice. 20-30 years is what you give a rapist or 2nd degree murder, not stealing money, even a lot of it.
Dotty’s Target Market
Dotty’s was the chain victimized by Tonar and is a chain of slot machine parlors in Nevada, Oregon, and Montana. Tonar targeted locations around Las Vegas.
People know Dotty’s for specifically targeting middle-aged and elderly women to gamble. The interior of the locations is usually colorful to give a homely feel. Each location also offers affordable and simple food, keeping the focus on gambling.
The chain was founded in 1991 in Oregon.
