Several sentenced in Xpressbet theft
Entrance to the Meadows Casino on Race Track Road in North Strabane Township
A Cokeburg woman accused of setting up bogus Xpressbet accounts at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino to steal about $30,000 was sentenced June 27 for her role in the scheme.
Kari Lynn Watson, 33, pleaded guilty to theft by unlawful taking and was sentenced by Washington County Judge Gary Gilman to 18 months of probation. Watson, an Xpressbet employee in 2015 when she recruited several others to withdraw money from the fake accounts, also is banned from the North Strabane Township casino and must pay back a share of the $28,540 stolen.
Three other women involved in the theft also pleaded before Gilman.
Tammy L. Smith, 43, of Carnegie, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property; Monica L. Brookins, 29, of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft; and Jawanna L. Raines, 39, of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy.
The three were sentenced to two years of probation, restitution and were banned from the casino.
A fifth woman involved, Ashley M. Webb of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty before Judge John DiSalle Dec. 1 and received the same sentence.
Charges were filed in the scheme after casino officials notified North Strabane Township police of the theft in July 2015.
A financial officer at the track told investigators it was Watson’s job to place bets taken over the phone by customers who had qualified accounts. When an account is opened, it goes through a credit and personal information check before activation. An official told police Watson reportedly had the authority to override the check and also the authority to credit accounts with funds.
Watson reportedly opened the accounts July 10, 2015, logging into the system with her name. She then allegedly logged out and logged back in using the name of a fellow Xpressbet employee to put money in four accounts. Investigators said Watson was the mastermind behind the scheme and recruited others to take money out of the accounts.
Curtis A. Gardner, 48, of Cokeburg, who was dating Watson during the scheme and dispersed money to the others involved, pleaded guilty to theft by deception before Judge Michael Lucas Aug. 3. Gardner, who is serving two to five years in state prison for assaulting Watson inside their home Thanksgiving Day and for possession with intent to deliver drugs, was sentenced to seven years of probation for his role in the scheme and must make restitution.
Shawnell C. Wade, 30, of Pittsburgh, was charged in November with giving Smith’s and Webb’s driver’s license information to Watson so accounts could be set up. Police said Gardner then gave Wade a portion of the money. Jury selection for Wade’s trial is scheduled for Sept. 12 before Lucas.