From left, Johnathan Rumery, Cody Schroeder, and Jonathan Waugh, were all arrested related to conspiracy at a roulette table at the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs.(Photo: Submitted photos)
Authorities have arrested three men related to conspiracy at a roulette table in a Council Bluffs casino, according to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
DCI began its investigation in March at the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs.
A casino pit boss/gaming floor supervisor, a casino dealer and a patron are each facing felony charges related to the conspiracy, in which more than $20,000 was illegally obtained over several weeks, according to a DCI news release issued Wednesday.
Authorities believe the three men worked together to move chips at the roulette table onto winning numbers, along with other cheating moves, which allowed the patron to earn thousands of dollars illegally each time. They allegedly split the money afterward.
The suspects face the following criminal charges:
- Jonathan Rumery, 28, of Omaha, the pit boss/gaming floor supervisor: ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony; first-degree theft, a Class C felony; conspiracy to commit non-forcible felony, a Class D felony; cheating or alter outcome of game, a Class D felony.
- Cody Schroeder, 28, of Council Bluffs, the patron: ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony; first-degree theft, a Class C felony; conspiracy to commit non-forcible felony, a Class D felony; cheating or alter outcome of game, a Class D felony.
- Jonathan Waugh, 24, of Council Bluffs, the dealer: cheating or alter of game, a Class D felony.
Authorities arrested Rumery in Omaha and Waugh in Council Bluffs on Tuesday, said DCI Special Agent in Charge David Dales. Schroeder was arrested Wednesday morning in Council Bluffs.
On Wednesday, criminal charges had only been filed against Waugh, according to the Pottawattamie County clerk of court. Charges against the other suspects were pending.
The criminal complaint filed against Waugh reveals details into the scheme believed to have taken place at Horseshoe Casino between late February and March.
Casino management became aware of the suspicious behavior after a "concerned patron" complained in a customer service survey that a casino dealer "was blatantly cheating for a guest," according to the criminal complaint.
Through review of casino surveillance video, the dealer was identified as Waugh and the guest was identified as Schroeder, according to the complaint.
The video showed authorities that Schroeder was playing roulette Feb. 27, Feb. 28, March 6, March 13, March 21 and March 28, and that the suspected cheating occurred on all of those dates except Feb. 27.
Authorities also determined that on all of those dates, except Feb. 27, Rumery was working as a supervisor that oversaw the roulette game, and Waugh was the dealer at the roulette table. As supervisor, part of Rumery's duties included assigning dealers to tables and approving payouts, according to the criminal complaint.
In an interview with DCI agents, Waugh said he was approached by Rumery near the end of February about the scheme, which also included Schroeder.
Waugh told agents that the roulette cheating took place on four to five occasions, with Rumery assigning him as dealer to a roulette table where Schroeder was a patron, according to the complaint. They took approximately $20,000 to $30,000 total from the casino, Waugh told agents.
The three met at various locations throughout Council Bluffs to split the money, with each man getting one third, according to the complaint.
In a second interview with DCI, Waugh identified himself, Rumery and Schroeder in surveillance video from businesses where they met to split the money, according to the complaint.
Investigators also reviewed text messages on Waugh's cellphone among the three men that showed communications about the scheme, the complaint states.
Waugh has since been released from jail upon posting bail. He made his first appearance in court on Wednesday, according to online court records.
All three suspects will be charged in Pottawattamie County, Dales said. Rumery will be extradited from Nebraska to be charged in Iowa.
No additional charges are expected in the case, he said.
DCI regularly monitors and investigates the 18 casinos in Iowa, Dales said, but "this type of conspiracy ... with not only an employee, but a supervisor (and a patron involved) is very rare," he said.
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