Four plead not guilty in slot scam

Kim Smith

Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1999 | 11:36 a.m.

Four of six Las Vegans arrested two weeks ago for allegedly taking part in a $5 million national slot machine scam pleaded not guilty Monday.

Ramon David Pereira, 52, Lisa Jane Luxum, 30, Richard Allen Ealey, 45, and Charles Denton Clark, 38, were arraigned by U.S. Magistrate Judge Roger L. Hunt.

Hunt set a tentative trial date of Sept. 20 for the foursome.

Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Gregory Damm informed Hunt and defense attorneys the evidence against the group includes audio and video tapes. He also announced that defense attorneys will be required to file motions for discovery because the case is being treated as a "closed file case," thus limiting their access.

Two others arrested on federal charges in connection with the case, Raul Ricardo Lescano, 40, and Tommy Glenn Carmichael, 49, are more than likely enroute from Atlantic City, where they were arrested, said FBI Special Agent Kevin Caudle.

A seventh co-defendant, Michael Joseph Balsamo, 40, remains at large.

The seven were indicted July 20 on charges of interstate travel in aid of racketeering, interstate transportation of stolen property and money laundering.

According to the indictment, members of the group designed cheating devices and then used them to rig numerous slot machines across the country between October 1996 and July 1999.

Caudle said authorities believe the group ripped off more than $5 million, however, the exact figure may never be known because investigators don't know all of the casinos that were hit.