Guilty Plea For Man Accused Of Bringing Counterfeit Chips To AC, Flushing Them Down Toilet
ATLANTIC CITY (CBS) – Authorities say a North Carolina man has pleaded guilty to charges that he brought millions of dollars in counterfeit poker chips to Atlantic City to use in a poker tournament, then flushed them down the toilet.
Authorities say the scheme was revealed when Christian Lusardi allegedly flushed hundreds of chips down the toilet in his room, clogging a pipe at Harrah's Casino Hotel.
Officials say Lusardi participated as a player in the Borgata's "Winter Poker Open," which started on January 14, 2014. The tournament, which was supposed to last three weeks, was ended after three days due to the discovery of the counterfeit chips.
"Lusardi's counterfeiting scheme sabotaged a major professional poker tournament at the Borgata, not to mention the plumbing at Harah's Casino Hotel," said Acting Attorney General Hoffman.
Authorities say Lusardi dumped hundreds of chips down the toilet, with a face value of more than $2.6 million.
Officials say under a plea agreement, the state will recommend that Lusardi be sentenced to five years in prison on a counterfeiting charge and three years in prison on a criminal mischief charge, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Additionally, Lusardi will be required to pay restitution of $463,540 to the Borgata to cover what it lost on the poker tournament and $9,455 to Harrah's to pay for the plumbing damage.
Authorities say Lusardi ordered the poker chips online from a manufacturer in China and stuck the counterfeit logo stickers to them.