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StumbleMan enters plea over charges tied to $3.75M in markers
Christian Peterson, left, of Wisconsin appears in court during his arraignment at the Regional Justice Center Monday, February 22, 2010. With Peterson is attorney Chris Rasmussen. Peterson was indicted in connection with gambling markers totaling $3.75 million at two Las Vegas casinos.
Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 | 3:29 p.m.
A Wisconsin businessman pleaded not guilty Monday in district court to bad check charges stemming from $3.75 million in gambling markers.
Christian Peterson, 41, of Verona, Wis., pleaded not guilty to two counts of drawing and passing a check without sufficient funds with intent to defraud and one count of theft in connection with four markers – one at Caesars Palace for $3.45 million and three totaling $300,000 at the Hard Rock Hotel.
He was indicted on the charges earlier this month by a Clark County grand jury.
“All of it is in dispute,” Chris Rasmussen, Peterson’s attorney, said before Monday’s hearing in front of Clark County District Court Hearing Master Kevin Williams. “He never ran up that kind of debt and how he got that much credit is shocking.”
A suit Peterson filed against Harrah’s Entertainment in June 2008 indicates Peterson disputes how the markers were signed.
Grand jury testimony indicates that Harrah’s furnished Peterson a jet for transportation to-and-from Las Vegas in April 2008.
Peterson’s lawsuit claims Harrah’s provided the jet despite awareness of his problems with gambling.
His suit also claims that about 45 minutes into his flight home on April 22, 2008, a flight attendant informed Peterson the jet would be returning to Las Vegas for an emergency landing due to mechanical difficulties.
Peterson feared for his life, the suit says.
Upon arrival in Las Vegas, Peterson was greeted by a Harrah’s representative who told him he had to sign a casino marker before he could leave on the company jet.
The Harrah’s representative told the grand jury Peterson was made aware that he was free to leave at any point on a commercial airliner without signing the markers, but that in order to take the jet, his signature would be required. Peterson signed the marker and took the jet home.
Petersons’ suit said he was left with no choice but to sign the marker. His lawsuit was resolved in November 2009 with a judgment in favor of Harrah’s. Peterson was ordered to pay about $2.6 million — the remainder of his marker after his estimated $1.5 million winnings, plus interest.
If convicted, Peterson could face up to 18 years in prison. A trial was set for June 1.
The Wisconsin State-Journal reported Peterson has been involved in a variety of businesses in the Madison area, including restaurants, a hotel, an indoor golf dome and development of property for a Target store.
The paper also reported he was involved in a reality-television show that was never broadcast called the “American Dream,” which he showcased at one of his restaurants. The winner of the show, which drew contestants from across the Midwest, was supposed to become part-owner of one of his restaurants.
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"Peterson's lawsuit claims Harrah's provided the jet despite awareness of his problems with gambling."
Shouldn't that read "because" instead of "despite"?
Once again, another high-roller demonstrates a lack of individual accountability.
Somehow his problems are someone else's fault.
Pathetic.
You signed it, you pay for it.
Somehow he thinks there is a set of different rules for wealthy.
He could have taken commercial flight home but didn't, it is his fault.
Go away for 18 years.
Not too smart as a last minute commerical ticket on an airline is less than $2.6 in markers.
I bet he got comp more then a jet ride.
Comment removed by moderator. Comment contained a personal attack.
Comment removed by moderator. Comment contained a personal attack.
Comment removed by moderator. Comment contained a personal attack.
Wild - he loses the civil suit, and now, he pleads not guilty to the criminal charge.
If he didn't have a case in civil court, what makes him think he's got one in criminal court??
He's a gambler to the very end.
after the flight returned back to vegas for an "emergency" marker-signing landing the gaming control board enforcement division was on hand at the behest of harrah's to force the patron's hand into signing the marker...i don't understand if peterson was in fact free to leave as harrah's claims then why didn't he just take a commercial flight home without signing the marker...he would have been home scott free....
peterson may be an moron for signing the marker but don't underestimate the illegal workings of the evil empire... harrah's
i'm sure the greedy execs/vip hosts at caesars overextended peterson's credit line much like the banks did with borrowers. caesars should deal with its own risks not have the ability to get the D.A. to jail people for not being able to pay their casino debts.
seems to me without a signature caesars would have had no case. that's too bad cuz caesars deserves to lose for screwing so many people.
There is a simple way to resolve these types of problems from ever happening again. Make a LAW that casinos may NOT extend credit, markers, cash checks etc. without first CONFIRMING and WITHOLDING THE FUNDS upon a signature on a binding document. Problem solved, done out...
Hey proudpd, I realize you hide behind your name and make personal attacks you would never do in person. I am sure its easy sitting in your public defender office surfing the web on the county taxpayer. Attacking Joe, one of brightest judges on the bench. Attacking Ornoz and me because of our weight. But keep in mind people actually pay us to represent them because of our results. Dont hate the private lawyers, resign from your county job and lets see you make it in the real world.
chrisrasmussen :
Hey if it's really you, can't you see that your appearance in court, not even bothering to wear a necktie, just furthers the image that we out here are a bunch of fat cow pokes. Show some respect to the bench and clean up your appearance slick..
Government Reduction
Would it be possible to have the Clark District Att'y's Office directly paid for by the Casinos?
That would save time & money... by not having to collect taxes from Las Vegas residents and, then, carting it over to the DA.
If we made the Casinos provide on-site space for a Deputy DA, each.. we'd save on constructing "public buildings" (or golf courses)to conduct legal business.
Chris, If any lawyer I ever hired showed up in court dressed like you do in that picture, I would fire him. Unless of course he gave enough money to the Judge's campaign fund that it was a foregone conclusion we would win. Sort of like the way it is when Bob Vannah represents you. So I have a two pronged question for you Chris. Did you represent Peterson in the civil case? and did you donate to that Judge's campaign? By the way, which Judge heard his civil complaint? You can bet Harrahs donated and you better be ready to pony up for the criminal Judge's re-election bid if you want even a snowball's chance in the dessert of winning. Justice is bought and sold in Las Vegas so I guess if you prepaid, you can dress any way you like.
Phramites, the bad check unit of the DA is funded by the people that write the bad checks or markers. The DA adds 10% onto what they owe to fund the bad check unit
Just
Thanks for clearing that up.
Now, when the DA unit makes a "big score", like the $375,000 on this case, do the extra funds flow back to public coffers... or does the BCU throw a big public BBQ blowout (out at Floyd Lamb?)or such?
The next time Harrah's flies Peterson IN, will the on-aircraft drinks be "open-" or "mini-" bar provided?
Is this the end of the Harrah's tradition? Wasn't it, always, Mr. Harrah's policy to provided free bus tickets home for folks that busted?
Sounds liks a Wattanabe Wannabe to me?
I love how they actually had the plane turn around and come back. That's priceless.
justMe;
"Justice is bought and sold in Las Vegas so I guess if you prepaid, you can dress any way you like."
Hysterical.
environprotector is right...if markers are being treated as checks then the casino should be required by law to verify that the funds are in your checking account prior to the issuance of any so called "credit"
since the casinos know they can throw the customer in jail for not repaying the marker there is an incentive to overextend "credit". since caesars can't compete any other way with wynn, venetian, and bellagio it issues inflated credit lines and allows high limit wagers of up to $75,000 a hand of blackjack (highest on the strip)
the problem stems from caesars corrupt management...watanabe isn't alone they have screwed thousands of people by giving them "bad checks" to sign knowing that the patron is chasing losses in excess of his net worth...
caesars takes advantage of sick people that have an addiction to gambling...similar to a bartender giving shots to a drunk and then standing by as the guy drives off to crash his car.
as long as the gaming control board & DA bernie zadrowski are in bed with harrah's nothing will change and we'll continue to see these type of tragic stories repeat on a regular basis.
FellowEveryBody
Looking at these two guys lets hope one of the upscale boutiques at Bellagio comes up with a wardrobe. No way can they win a case dressed like to Republican slobs.
They apprear to be Draftie5Cheney, KarlRove, KenStarr like. Total slobs.
Where'd this bum get his money? Really, does he have any. A restaurant? '
Al Big Guy Gore Admirer , Merci
hard to envision the guy didnt have the money for a commercial plane ticket
But the commercial plane didn't have the free hookers and booze the harrah's plane did.
The dealers should have to repay all the tips this guy gave away. Along with the cocktail waitress that got him that way.
the abhorrent dress is part of the plan to make the man look simple and taken advantage of. Id like to see the footage of how he was dressed as he partied his a$$ off that weekend.
another life & another family ruined by the corporate culprit harrah's.
why in the world did the cheesehead sign the marker???
he must have been really scared after the plane returned to vegas and gaming control board officials were there hand-in-hand with caesars crooks to pen his autograph.
poor guy may get many years to regret that dumb decision.
To fixinron:
It is obvious you don't know what you are talking about. Harrah's fed this player enough alcohol it is a wonder he didn't die of alochol poisoning. As for the tips the dealers recieved: the dealers and supervisors were forced to put up with foul language, direct comments to the dealer that was degrading, inappropiate sexual comments and gestures during his whole stay. Harrah's could not do enough for him including breaking federal laws concerning workers right to a harassment free work environment. If anyone says anything--they get fired!! It happens time and again over the all mighty dollar. I think the dealers and supervisors will be willing to testify for Mr. Petersen as to the condition he was in,just like Wantanabe. The attorney should contact the dealers union and I am sure they would help, even though Mr. Petersen was a real piece of crap. The corporations are bigger pieces of crap for the way they truly treat their employees, not the BS they put out in their press releases. You would be hard pressed to find anyone that enjoys working for this company except the ones hauling all the money out of this state. I think the Gaming Commission should approve them for another 6 or 7 properties here! What a crock!
harrahs cheats & irishfighter.....well said!!!
you're not alone in your synopsis of harrah's and in particular caesars
Irishfighter. I cannot agree with you enough. The gaming industry completely ignores the harrassment free work environment staute of federal law. My boss told me that it is part of the job and if you can't take it, find another career. To which I respond, bull sh...! Paying me minimum wage does not entitle any company to require working under such a stressful atmosphere. I GUARANTEE if gaming employees banded to gether, hired a lawyer and submitted signed affidavits, every casino would be found GUILTY of forcing employees to work in a hostile work environment.
Sounds like a perfect insanity case to me!
throw the book at this scumbag
well put snooper!!!
are u an attorney? how bout u put together a class action suit against harrah's
can't believe they are still running this town and no one has dared to stop 'em
FEDS if you're listening please investigate harrah's and its link to the gaming control board and the DA's office...
FEDS please rescue us from Harrah's wrath!!!
While I would like to say Bernie Zadrowski is just spinning the facts surrounding collecting Las vegasCasino credit debt through the Criminal Courts; he is in command of the facts and is clearly lying about them! When he said his "Bad Check Unit" had a 5.1 million dollar revenue in 2003 he was only including the cost to his department. The cost to extradite, jail and prosecute these 20,000(every year!) casino gamblers in 2003 cost at least a 100 million dollars; which means they actually had a 94.9 million deficit in 2003! Just think of the programs that have to be cut to support this! The Bad Check Unit was created to allow Las Vegas Casino's to collect civil debt, that they hand out indisciminately to desparate people, through the Criminal Courts; all on the taxpayer's dime. Just think, if all business's could "criminalize" their civil debt Wells Fargo could have you arrested for missing a car payment! The Las Vegas Casino's use the Criminal Courts like a "slot machine" And the Clark County District Attorney's Office like their personal "collection agency". These types of egregious use of taxpayer dollars is why we are in this financial crisis!
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