Slain bookmaker’s mom arrested on wagering charges

Erica D. Johnson

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2002 | 9:46 a.m.

The elderly mother of a notorious Las Vegas bookmaker who was killed six years ago was arrested Monday on bookmaking charges.

The state Gaming Control Board arrested Sylvia White, 76. She was charged with operating a sports book without a license and racketeering and booked into the Clark County Detention Center.

White's son, Bruce Weinstein, 46, was a wealthy area bookie who was killed in 1996.

Weinstein's girlfriend, Amy DeChant, and her former business partner, Robert Wayne Jones, were convicted in Weinstein's shooting death. DeChant alleged Weinstein was killed by the mob.

Jones was sentenced to five years for supplying the murder weapon and helping DeChant clean up blood in Weinstein's home.

The Nevada Supreme Court overturned the pair's conviction, saying a homicide detective shouldn't have been allowed to testify that DeChant's story was a "fairy tale."

The charges against Jones were dismissed. DeChant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and faces a 10- to 25-year sentence.

White's grandson, Marc Weinstein, 22, Phillip Lorcher, 58, and Brian Todd Foster, 41, were arrested with White and face the same charges. They were also booked into the Clark County Detention Center.

The charge of operating a sports book without a license carries a penalty of one to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. Racketeering charges carry a five- to 20-year sentence.

White, Weinstein and Foster were released Tuesday on their own recognizance.

Lorcher was still in custody this morning, with bail set at $3,000.

The three men were operating the business with White, said Keith Copher, Control Board spokesman.

Copher said the business was operating out of a house Foster rented in the 11000 block of Tribiani Avenue in Summerlin. The arrests were made there.

He said bettors would set up an account and call in bets over the phone. Their accounts would then be debited or credited over the phone accordingly, Copher said.

"It's a felony to operate a betting business without a license because (the Gaming Control Board) needs to make sure they are exposing a fair and impartial game to the public," he said.

Because most of the clients were out of state, Copher said, the four could also face federal charges. It is illegal to bet across state lines.

The arrests were the culmination of a yearlong investigation. Gaming control officials have issued warrants for two other people believed to be involved.

Metro Police officials said their records don't show that White had any prior convictions.