Poker Writer
Tampa police are investigating two different cases involving alleged robberies near the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. Each robbery occurred as the victims were targeted by multiple individuals while leaving the casino, raising questions about the security of the surrounding area.
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Tag Team Casino Robbery Scheme in Florida
The most recent robbery occurred in the wee hours of Aug. 1, when a man who hit a jackpot was held at gunpoint.
It appeared to be a scam involving two people. The unnamed man who won the jackpot left the casino with 18-year-old Anayaliz Dorsey-Criado, whom he had just met. The two drove to a nearby apartment complex.
The 18-year-old used the victim’s phone, while a second person, 37-year-old Benjamin Lopez, emerged near a stairwell and pointed a gun at the victim. The two robbers then took the victim’s phone and wallet and ran off. Later video surveillance showed that both suspects were around the victim while at the casino.
The details of this robbery indicate that the perpetrators likely targeted the victim. The authorities have not yet released the identity of the old victim nor have they revealed how much money was taken from him.
Hotel Ambush Had a Similar M.O.
The other robbery happened on July 23. It also involved a young woman luring a victim into a trap.
The victim met 20-year-old Angelina Johnson, and the two exchanged phone numbers in the early morning. Later, Johnson called the victim and came to his hotel.
Two masked men joined Johnson to ambush the victim and steal $9,000 worth of jewelry. They also took his wallet.
Robbery Schemes Allegedly Common at Seminole Hard Rock
Tampa Police Department Deputy Chief Patrick Messmer warned the public about the inherent dangers of winning large sums of money at a casino, in the wake of these robberies.
Everybody should just be aware, when you are at a casino or any place and you come into a large sum of money, when people take an unexpected interest in you, that should really send up some red flags and sound some alarm bells.
In both cases, the victims appeared to be lured in by young women who were likely asking them about their winnings, feigning curiosity. The women had accomplices, and the schemes persuaded casino winners to let their guard down in the aftermath of a big win.
People in the comments section on YouTube indicated that these robberies weren’t isolated incidents. One commenter said:
These cases harken back to the recent shocking poker robbery in Las Vegas. In that case, two men hog-tied poker pro Jared Griener and robbed him inside the doors of his AirBnb.
Griener’s case and the Tampa robberies share a common thread: large cash transactions in casinos invite bad actors to cook up nefarious plots in hopes of separating gamblers from their money. Such robberies have been an ongoing issue in Texas cardrooms as well.
The bottom line is that gamblers carrying hefty sums of cash would do well to take precautions. As long as money is changing hands at casinos, someone who isn’t entitled to it could potentially have their eyes on a prize that isn’t theirs.
