Former slot director sued

Monday, March 25, 2002 | 10:58 a.m.

MGM MIRAGE'S Treasure Island sued a former director of slot operations, alleging he sold 196 slot machines without the Las Vegas hotel-casino's consent for $133,021 and allegedly misappropriated the money.

Treasure Island sued Pedro Mata, also known as Pete Mata, in Clark County District Court last week. Mata was accused of selling 101 slot machines for $67,000 to U.S. Gaming Imports Inc. of Clayton, Ohio, allegedly through a licensed gaming machine distributor called Brocklesby Distributing.

Mata, who allegedly arranged for the $67,000 payment to be transferred to his personal bank account at Cumorah Credit Union in Las Vegas, was also accused of misappropriating $66,021 from an alleged unauthorized sale of another 95 slot machines to Gaming Exports.

The suit said Treasure Island didn't learn about the alleged embezzlement until August 2001 when a former Gaming Exports employee disclosed terms of the sale to the hotel-casino.

The defendant could not be reached for comment.