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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Two men who gambled on getting away with a scheme that bilked Mohegan Sun Pocono out of more than $420,000 will plead guilty.</p><p>Plea agreements filed Wednesday in federal court say former casino Vice President of Player Development Robert J. Pellegrini and gambler Mark J. Heltzel will admit to their roles in the high-stakes scam, in which stolen rewards cards that were duplicated and loaded with bogus credits reeled in $422,147.</p><p>Pellegrini, 50, of Fairview Township, and Heltzel, 52, of Dallas, will each plead guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, the plea agreements say. According to prosecutors, the charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and fines totalling $500,000.</p><p>Prosecutors say they will recommend a reduced sentence if Pellegrini and Heltzel &#8220;demonstrate recognition and affirmative acceptance of responsibility,&#8221; according to the plea agreements. The deals call for full restitution.</p><p><a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/533136/alleged-mohegan-sun-casino-conspirators-indicted-by-federal-grand-jury" target="_blank">Pellegrini and Heltzel were indicted in April</a> on charges they conspired with former cocktail waitress Rochelle Poszeluznyj to steal and copy casino patrons&#8217; Players&#8217; Club card PINs. The pleaded not guilty at the time. Poszeluznyj <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/584751/former-mohegan-sun-cocktail-waitress-pleads-guilty-in-420k-fraud-scheme" target="_blank">pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering</a> in September and is awaiting sentencing.</p><p>Poszeluznyj, prosecutors say, stole the PINs from patrons to whom she served drinks and provided them to Heltzel, with whom she had &#8220;an ongoing personal relationship.&#8221; Gamblers use the cards in slot machines and acquire points that can be used to claim free perks ranging from drinks to hotel rooms, according to the casino&#8217;s website.</p><p>Heltzel then gave the PINs to Pellegrini, who duplicated the cards and loaded them with free-play credits.</p><p>Pellegrini&#8217;s job duties, prosecutors say, required him to reward frequent patrons with perks, including adding drinks, meals and free slot play to their Players&#8217; Club cards, to which he had &#8220;unfettered access.&#8221;</p><p>Prosecutors say the two men instructed Poszeluznyj to seek out gamblers with higher-level club cards that allowed more credits to be added. Heltzel then gambled with the fraudulent free play, winning $422,147 that was split between the trio, prosecutors say.</p><p>The scheme was allegedly spread across approximately 160 individual Players&#8217; Club cards between May 2014 and April 2015.</p><p>A plea date has not been set.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Heltzel-cmyk-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Heltzel </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Heltzel-cmyk-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Heltzel </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Pellegrini_Robert-cmyk-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Pellegrini </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_Pellegrini_Robert-cmyk-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Pellegrini </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></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>

Pair to plead guilty in Mohegan Sun Pocono Players’ Club card scheme