Gaming regulators nominate two for black book

Thursday, July 15, 1999 | 5:11 a.m.

The prospects for the book include John Edward Mealey Jr., who is awaiting sentencing for a slot-cheating scheme in Washoe County.

Mealey, 58, pleaded guilty in May to one count of possessing a slot cheating device, according to control board records.

In 1989, he was convicted of possessing a slot cheating device and was given a suspended sentence of six years and five years probation, according to control board records.

Peter Jay Lenz, 54, who has four criminal convictions tied to illegal gambling operations, also was nominated for the book at the GCB meeting in Las Vegas.

His most recent conviction was in 1996 in federal court in San Diego for conspiring to conduct, manage, finance, supervise, direct and own all or part of an illegal gaming business, according to a control board investigation.

He was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison and three years of supervised release, according to control board records.

Lenz was convicted in 1982 for running an illegal gaming operation in San Diego and 1983 for the same crime in the Phoenix area, according to control board records.

Representatives of the Nevada attorney general's office argued the pair's nomination. The Control Board's recommendation goes to its parent Nevada Gaming Commission, which will have final say.

Thirty-two people are currently listed in the book, because of factors including past felony convictions and notorious reputations.