Problem Casino Gambling Often Leads to Embezzlement, as Minnesota Case Illustrates

A Minnesota woman has been accused of stealing several hundred thousand dollars from the non- profit group for which she served as treasurer, and then gambling the money away at a local casino.

Pa P. Vang, 34, of St. Paul, was arrested on charges of felony theft for having stolen at least $200,000 from the Asian Women United of Minnesota (AWUM) non- profit group, where she has served as treasurer in charge of all finances since March of 2000. Vang has been on the non- profit organization’s board of directors since 2003.

The AWUM is an association which seeks to stop Asian women from being victims of domestic violence, according to its website. The nonprofit charity group also operates a shelter for battered women. Most of its financing comes from grants from the federal government.

The missing funds were discovered during a mandatory audit of AWUM’s finances, which uncovered strange transactions between May and December of 2004. The audit also uncovered the fact that Vang had opened four bank accounts, supposedly for AWUM, and transferred money from AWUM’s main account into these four accounts for her own use. In total, the auditing firm found that $265,864.13 was not accounted for.

Vang has admitted to having stolen $200,000 of the missing funds, which she said she used for gambling at the Mystic Lake Casino. She said that she has already lost all of the money at the casino.

If she is convicted, Vang faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of $100,000.

Vang’s case illustrates the oft- cited point that problem casino gambling addictions too often end in large- scale embezzlement. In the past month along, four young and middle- aged Minnesota women have been accused of felony theft from their places of work or other places. All four have said that they used the stolen money for casino gambling.

Donna Murphy, Jennifer A. Rosvold, Lori E. Kratzke, and Pa P. Vang stole from their employers or neighbors and used the money to gamble at several area casino centers, including the Treasure Island Casino and the Mystic Lake Casino.

Casino gambling addiction counseling professionals said that many casino gambling addicts turn to stealing from their employers when they have hit rock bottom.

Many casino addicts, they say, believe that they will steal money temporarily, use it at the casino to win more money, and then repay the stolen, or, to their minds, “borrowed” funds. However, even if they do win the money back, say casino addiction counselors, many of them are so heavily addicted that they simply take the winnings back to the gaming floor.

Police Raid Sophisticated Illegal Warehouse Casino

The police recently raided an illegal casino site located in a dusty warehouse in Port Richmond, confiscating thousands of dollars and illegal gambling equipment.

Problem Casino Gambling Often Leads to Embezzlement, as Minnesota Case Illustrates
A Minnesota woman has been accused of stealing several hundred thousand dollars from the non- profit group for which she served as treasurer, and then gambling the money away at a local casino.

SC Native Americans Take Video Gambling Issue to State Supreme Court
The Catawba Native American tribe of South Carolina has certainly posed its fair share of legal challenges in recent years, keeping both the legislative and judicial branches of the state’s government occupied.

Six Nations Native Canadian Tribe Considers Online Gambling on Reservation
The Six Nations Native Canadian Indian tribe, whose tribal reservation is near Brantford, Canada, is engulfed in a controversy over online gambling, which an outside group is keen on operating from their reservation.

Online Poker
50% Bonus up to $200 Free