Dealer, California police officer arrested on cheating allegations

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 | 10:49 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

A Southern California police officer and a Las Vegas blackjack dealer have been arrested for alleged cheating.

Edgar Zermeno, 33, an officer with the Torrance Police Department, and Edgar Lovinaria, 52, Henderson, a blackjack dealer at the Stratosphere, were arrested on two felony counts of cheating and conspiracy at around 3 a.m., May 6.

Keith Copher, chief of enforcement of the state Gaming Control Board, said today that Stratosphere officials contacted regulators after suspecting that the dealer was paying on losing hands and exposing his hole card to the player after reviewing surveillance video.

Gaming Control Board agents concurred after seeing the video and the arrest was made the next morning when Zermeno returned to Lovinaria's blackjack table and continued to play.

Copher said the suspect made a little over $1,000 while playing before the arrest was made.

Information on the case was turned over to the Clark County District Attorney's Office for prosecution. The suspects are expected to be arraigned June 6.

Copher said if convicted, the two men could receive up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 for each count.

Torrance police have placed Zermeno on paid administrative leave and have begun an internal investigation, Lt. Brad Wilson said.

Zermeno, who was hired by the force in May 2003, would lose his job if he is convicted of a felony, Wilson said.