‘Hiking the Natural Beauty of PA’ to be topic of lecture at Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock

US Virgin Islands reports its first Zika virus case

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Attorney Michael Butera has made good on his word.</p><p>A day earlier, the defense attorney for former Mohegan Sun Pocono Casino VP of Player Development and alleged scam conspirator Robert Joseph Pellegrini said he would file a motion in Luzerne County Court to reduce an &#8220;extremely over the top&#8221; $500,000 straight cash bail.</p><p>On Friday, Butera did just that.</p><p>In the court filing, Butera echoed similar<a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/505540/mohegan-sun-vp-jailed-for-lack-of-500k-bail-on-charges-of-scamming-casino" target="_blank"> arguments made at Pellegrini&#8217;s arraignment Thursday</a>, including that Pellegrini has no prior criminal record, poses no flight risk and and has ties to the community. The $500,000 amount was &#8220;excessive,&#8221; Butera wrote.</p><p>On Wednesday, Magisterial District Judge Joseph D. Spagnuolo Jr. <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/505217/man-accused-of-scamming-over-400k-from-mohegan-sun-pocono-casino-goes-to-jail-for-lack-of-500k-bail" target="_blank">handed down the same bail amount</a> for Mark Heltzel, one of Pellegrini&#8217;s alleged co-conspirators.</p><p>Judge Joseph Sklarosky Jr. ordered prosecutors to show cause as to why bail should not be modified. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Luzerne County Courthouse.</p><p>Pellegrini, 50, was jailed Thursday on charges he defrauded the casino out of nearly a half million dollars in an elaborate scheme involving a cocktail waitress and casino patron. Prosecutors labeled him as the &#8220;mastermind&#8221; of the scam.</p><p>Police said Pellegrini, beverage server Rochelle Poszeluznyj, 37, and Heltzel, 51, played $487,100 in fraudulent slot play and allegedly cashed out $418,792 in winnings from May 2, 2014 to April 4, 2015.</p><p>According to a criminal complaint, Pellegrini would receive players&#8217; club cards and pin numbers from Poszeluznyj, who collected them from casino patrons. Pellegrini then allegedly duplicated the cards and added fraudulent free play in excess of the owners&#8217; allotted amounts. The duplicated cards were then allegedly given to Heltzel who downloaded the excess play and cashed out winnings.</p><p>The trio then allegedly split the cash.</p><p>Police said Heltzel would only play the fraudulent excess amount on the cards, leaving the patrons&#8217; usual slot play amount, so as to not alert the card owner.</p><p>Preliminary hearings for Pellegrini, Heltzel and Poszeluznyj have been scheduled for Feb. 1.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012216casino-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Pellegrini </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL012216casino-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Pellegrini </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Attorney seeks to modify $500k bail for alleged casino scheme ‘mastermind’