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Woman charged with scamming casino patrons www.privateofficer.com
A woman charged with scamming dozens of people at an automated bank teller at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem will face trial in Northampton County Court, a district judge ruled this morning.
Authorities said Shoumin Chai, 56, of New York, has made a career of stealing at casinos across the country and has a 50-page criminal record and 13 felony convictions in New Jersey.
On June 19 and 20, police said Chai watched Sands patrons insert and quickly withdraw their cards at an automated teller machine. Police said Chai would pretend to help people withdraw their cash, but was secretly tapping into their bank accounts.
Only three of the 24 victims at the Sands have been identified and while investigators said the money Chai allegedly stole is around $1,000, the amount could be 10 times that if all the victims are identified.
Chai is charged with 47 felonies and 71 misdemeanors, including access device fraud, identity theft and receiving stolen property.
Chai remains in Northampton County Prison on $200,000 bail.
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Two arrested in casino disturbance, assault www.privateofficer.com
A Coopersburg couple face assault charges after Bethlehem police said they struck a Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem security officer early this morning when he told them the bar was closing.
Larry L. Scholl, 60, and Antoinette Scholl-Hermans, 58, will both be sent summons for charges of simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness, police said.
The husband and wife were taken to St. Luke’s Hospital-Fountain Hill after the dispute, which happened about 2:20 a.m. During a tussle with the security officer, police said Scholl fell and struck his head and his wife fell and cut her nose.
A hospital spokeswoman said they were treated and released According to police:
The security guard, David Strawn, saw the couple sitting at a bar in the casino and saw they were “highly intoxicated.”
They were told the bar was closing and Strawn asked if they had a ride home. Scholl-Hermans became irate and punched Strawn in the left side of his head, knocking off his glasses.
During the struggle, Scholl-Hermans fell on the ground and cut her nose. As Strawn tried to handcuff her, police said Scholl jumped on Strawn’s back and punched him several times.
After the couple were handcuffed, Scholl-Hermans fell over several times while seated.
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