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June 16, 2004 CASINO
ROBBERY SUSPECTS PLEAD GUILTY TO PARTICIPATING IN 2003 Ringleader Charged In Several Casino Holdups... Slated For September Trial... |
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ATLANTIC COUNTY - Division of Criminal Justice Director Vaughn L. McKoy announced that three individuals charged with participating in the July, 2003 armed robbery of the Bally's Park Place Casino have pleaded guilty in Atlantic County Superior Court to charges they acted as lookouts and blockers for the principal defendant. According to Criminal Justice Director McKoy, Eugene Wilder, 31, 1301 Caspian Ave., Atlantic City, Kenea Blann, 33, Atlantic City, and Thomas Boyd, 42, 748 Bellevue Ave., Hammonton, pleaded guilty today to a charge of conspiracy before Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Carmen Alvarez. The defendants were charged via a State Grand Jury indictment returned on Nov. 5, 2003. The indictment also charged Earl Dennis, 30, 1010 Sewell Ave., Atlantic City, as the ringleader and principal conspirator in the armed robbery. Dennis was charged with first degree robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, terroristic threats, and conspiracy. Dennis is scheduled for trial in Atlantic County Superior Court on Sept. 13 on the July 25 Bally's robbery allegation. Wilder, Blann, and Boyd face up to ten years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on July 16 by Judge Alvarez. Deputy Attorney General Yvonne Maher assigned to the Division of Criminal Justice - Casino Prosecutions Bureau prosecuted the case. The State
Grand Jury indictment alleged that Dennis, Wilder, Blann and Boyd entered
the Bally's Park Place Casino at approximately 1:00 a.m. on July 25, 2003.
It is alleged that Dennis approached the clerk at a coin redemption window,
passed a note demanding money, and displayed a handgun. As a result, Dennis
removed approximately $6,000 in cash from the casino. The indictment charged
that Wilder, Blann and Boyd acted as lookouts and/or blockers during the
robbery and that each of the defendants left the casino within seconds
of each other. A second
State Grand Jury indictment charged Dennis with the July 27 armed robbery
of the Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino. It is alleged that Dennis approached
a redemption window cashier, passed a demand note threatening bodily harm
if the cashier failed to comply, produced a handgun, and stole more than
$17,000. The defendants remain incarcerated in the Atlantic County Jail pending trial and/or sentencing. Criminal
Justice Director McKoy noted that the Casino Prosecution Bureau, in conjunction
with the Division of Gaming Enforcement and the New Jersey State Police
investigate and prosecute criminal activity that occurs in the Atlantic
City casinos. The Dennis investigation was coordinated by DSFC Mark Dietrich
and DSG Steve Jackson, New Jersey State Police Casino Investigations Section,
and assigned to the Division of Gaming Enforcement.
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