A man who was about to go on trial on charges of using a software glitch to steal nearly $500,000 from a western
Andre Nestor, 39, of Swissvale, was arrested Monday after he arrived at the Washington County Courthouse for jury selection on 650 felony counts of theft, criminal conspiracy, computer trespassing and other charges involving the Meadows Racetrack and Casino. Authorities say Nestor and two others caused a high-bet slot machine at the casino to generate false jackpots in 2009.
Washington County Prosecutor Steven Toprani said he spoke with prosecutors in Nevada who said Nestor may be involved in thefts totaling more than $1 million at casinos there. Toprani said he agreed to turn over the prosecution of the Washington County case to the U.S. attorney's office in Nevada, which is investigating if this is part of a larger scheme.
"I'm being arrested federally for winning on a slot machine," a stunned Nestor told WTAE-TV on Monday after his arrest.
"Let everybody see the surveillance tapes. I pressed buttons on the machine on the casino. That's all I did," Nestor told the TV station.
Nestor had been free on $100,000 bail before his arrest Monday. He was in federal custody Tuesday and expected to be extradited to Nevada.
The two men accused in the Washington County case with Nestor have pleaded guilty. Kerry Laverde, 51, pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of receiving stolen property. Patrick Loushil, 42, had previously pleaded guilty in the case and had been expected to testify against Nestor at his Pennsylvania trial.
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