Man indicted in scam probe

Thursday, May 3, 2001 | 11:13 a.m.

A man who allegedly used a false driver's license in concert with someone else's Social Security number to fraudulently obtain markers of more than $50,0000 in Las Vegas casinos was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday.

Xian Zhang is charged with two counts of wire fraud, four counts of false use of means of identification and four counts of false use of a Social Security number in connection with a Jan. 25 trip to Las Vegas.

The indictment alleges that Zhang pretended to be Sou Lin Lee and, using a fake California driver's license, went from casino to casino applying for credit lines and markers.

Workers at Caesars Palace, the Venetian, the Aladdin and the MGM Grand were approached -- over the period of Jan 25, 26 and 27 -- by a man claiming to be Lee, according to the indictment.

The indictment states that the defendant was successful in obtaining a $25,000 marker at Caesars Palace and a $50,000 marker at the Venetian.

At Caesars Zhang allegedly lost about $5,000 before leaving with the remaining $20,000 in chips, and at the Venetian he reportedly lost $200 before leaving with $49,800, the indictment states.

On Jan. 27, Zhang allegedly attempted to get a marker at the MGM, but he was turned down.

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