Alleged casino cheat awaits arraignment

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000 | 10:53 a.m.

A second Las Vegas man indicted in an international casino cheating ring that purportedly bilked casinos in Las Vegas and elsewhere out of more than $2 million has been set free on his own recognizance.

Kwong On Wong, 41, was released Wednesday by U.S. Magistrate Robert McQuaid, who ordered that Wong be on home-electronic monitoring, allowing him to leave his residence only for work or attorney visits. Wong also was ordered to surrender his passport.

A day earlier, La Chau Ng, 40, of Las Vegas was released on his own recognizance. They and six others were arrested earlier this week on a six-count racketeering indictment unsealed in Las Vegas Tuesday. Seven others are at large, one was arrested recently and one is in prison on unrelated convictions.

The arraignment for Wong, Ng, and others arrested out of state will be 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 13 before Magistrate Robert Johnston.

The 36-page indictment alleges that the ring conspired to cheat casinos in Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City and Ontario, Canada, out of more than $2 million from 1994 to 1999.

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