Paddling not enough to deter chip robbers

Sunday, Sept. 12, 1999 | 9:59 a.m.

A Washoe District Court jury returned the verdict Friday against Luke Delano Banks, 40, of Fairfield, Calif., and Thomas Lee Singleton, 38, a transient.

The two also were found guilty of robbery with the use of a deadly weapon, which doubles their sentence.

They face up to 30 years in prison when they're sentenced Oct. 20 by Judge Jim Hardesty.

Prosecutors said the men ran into the Sands Regency Hotel-Casino on Aug. 26, 1998 and began taking gambling chips from a blackjack table with no players.

Card dealer Tonga Tran testified that she hit their hands with a paddle when they began grabbing $100, $25 and $5 chips, but backed away from the table when she saw a gun pointed at her chest.

The 4:45 a.m. robbery resulted in Sands officials pulling all $100 chips from use in the casino. When people later began cashing in $100 chips, officials quizzed them about the chips.

Those interviews eventually led to the arrests of Banks and Singleton.

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