Suspect in casino theft surrenders

Thursday, Oct. 29, 1998 | 12:07 p.m.

A former slot booth cashier at Binion's Horseshoe hotel-casino, surrendered to the Clark County Detention Center Wednesday after a 35-count indictment charged her with embezzling $1 million from the downtown casino between 1995 and 1997.

With her lawyer at her side, Rita Kolstad walked into the detention center to face charges that she removed money transfer and credit slips from both the slot booth and the cage, delaying the detection of the funds for nearly two years.

The indictment also says Kolstad signed for change-cart cash that was not delivered to the cashier's cage.

But lawyer Lamond Mills started on the offensive, saying he did not understand how a change person could embezzle that much money.

"It's amazing to me that a change person in a single person booth on the casino floor could accomplish this," Mills said. "That money was taken out at a higher level and now they're looking for someone to put the blame on.

"They are blaming a lowly cashier. Only at the Horseshoe and only with the Binions."

Kolstad's bail has been set at $105,000. A bail hearing is set for Monday morning in District Judge Joseph Bonaventure's court.

Lamond said that he will likely seek a bail reduction for his client.

Kolstad is also facing a lawsuit by the Horseshoe's insurance company, Great American Insurance Co., over the missing money. That civil action, filed in July, is still in the evidence-gathering stage and no trial has been set.