Gaming Board splits in awarding license to Mirage executive

John Wilen

Thursday, Sept. 3, 1998 | 11:22 a.m.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board Wednesday awarded a gaming license to a high-ranking Mirage Resorts executive accused of lying to a board agent in January.

Bruce Aguilera, nominated to be licensed as secretary and treasurer of Mirage's new Bellagio hotel-casino, was approved by the board on a split vote.

Dissenting was member Steve DuCharme, soon to be board chairman, who said he remained unsatisfied with Aguilera's account of a January incident in which Aguilera told a board agent he had not recently spoken to a Mirage employee accused of unlawfully collecting Mirage debts in South Korea.

"At this point ... I don't believe Mr. Aguilera has met his burden to demonstrate his suitability," said DuCharme.

The other members, C. Brian Harris and retiring Chairman Bill Bible, said they considered a $350,000 fine paid by Mirage Resorts last month in connection with its illegal South Korean credit collection practices adequate settlement of the Aguilera issue. The Aguilera incident was listed as one count in the multi-count board complaint which let to the fine.

At its August meeting, before Mirage Resorts agreed to the fine, the board declined to approve Aguilera's application, referring it back to staff for further investigation. Mirage agreed to the fine at last month's Gaming Commission meeting, two weeks after the board meeting.

The Board alleged that Mirage employees Laura Choi and Macao Lee each travelled to South Korea several times to collect gambling debts they incurred at Mirage properties. South Korean law restricts the export of more than $10,000 without prior approval.

The board's concern with Aguilera centers around a conversation the executive had with a board agent in January. At that time, Aguilera, serving as Mirage general counsel, told the board agent he had not spoken with Choi recently. The board alleges he had spoken with her the previous day, buttressing the claim with the testimony of a Metro police officer who was present at the time Choi called Aguilera.

At Wednesday's meeting, Aguilera conceded that he had likely spoken with Choi the day before speaking with the board agent, but said he honestly couldn't remember the conversation.

"I had several conversations with Ms. Choi," said Aguilera. "I don't recall exactly when."

Aguilera's attorney, Frank Schreck, argued the board should grant Aguilera the benefit of the doubt, given his spotless regulatory record.

"It's certainly not indicative of the way Bruce has dealt with the regulatory agencies ... over the years," said Schreck. "Obviously, this is this man's career."

The board gave Aguilera the choice of again referring his application back to their staff for further investigation, in the hope that a review of the evidence would win DuCharme's support, or to proceed with a split vote. After a recess, Aguilera accepted the split vote, which allows him to work at Bellagio, but could be considered a blemish in future suitability investigations.