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Nine accused of cheating casinos of $200,000 through credit card fraud

Thursday, Sept. 7, 2000 | 3:55 a.m.

The indictment charged that two Atlantic City men, Corey Lassiter, 31, and Derick Williams, 34, organized the ring and utilized the help of Michael Alpheaus, 28, of Pennsauken, who worked as a cashier at a Harrah's cash advance window.

He was arrested in November 1997 by State Police on charges of credit card theft and conspiracy, said Daniel Henegan, a spokesman for the state Casino Control Commission. His casino license was suspended in March 1998 and subsequently revoked, Henegan said.

Prosecutors said the thefts occurred between May 1, 1997, and March 1, 1998, alleging Lassiter and Williams recruited other suspects to steal information from credit card companies that employed them. The pair also got other suspects to pose as legitimate card holders, who would call credit card companies, report their cards stolen and request replacement cards, prosecutors said.

The replacement cards would be used to obtain cash advances from the casinos, prosecutors said. Alpheaus is accused of giving the suspects cash advances without obtaining proper identification.

The principals could not be reached for comment. No phone listing could be found for Corey Lassiter or Williams. Alpheaus has an unlisted phone.

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