Station found former Venetian executive suitable

Tuesday, March 2, 2004 | 10:58 a.m.

An executive fired by The Venetian in connection with a 2002 contest-rigging scandal is working in a top job at a small Las Vegas casino.

Don Richardson, one of the fired bosses from The Venetian, works as the director of operations at the Wildfire, owned by Station Casinos Inc., a Station executive confirmed Monday.

In a complaint and settlement agreement filed on Wednesday, The Venetian and the state Gaming Control Board declined to identify the four executives the property terminated after property bosses discovered three contests awarding a Mercedes sport utility vehicle and $20,000 and $10,000 casino chips were rigged. The Las Vegas Sun reported last week that two of the bosses, Michael French and Brian Parrish, are working at top jobs at the Inn of the Mountain Gods, a New Mexico tribal casino.

Richardson began working at the Wildfire in early 2003, Station Casinos spokeswoman Lesley Pittman said.

"We knew about this incident when Don came to us seeking employment," Pittman said. "Our regulatory compliance department investigated the matter and the issue was looked into by our compliance committee and both groups found he was suitable for the position."

Pittman said Richardson would not be available for comment.