Co-Founder of Casino-Cheating Criminal Enterprise Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy Targeting Casinos in the United States and Canada

The U.S. Department of Justice reports in its press release (quotation, not an independent finding): “WASHINGTON – Tai Khiem Tran, 47, pleaded guilty today in San Diego to conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise, the "Tran Organization," in a scheme to cheat casinos across the United States and Canada, Acting Assistant Attorney General Rita M. Glavin of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Karen P. Hewitt for the Southern District of California announced today. Tran admitted that he and his co-conspirators unlawfully obtained up to $1 million during card cheats. A three-count indictment was returned May 22, 2007, and unsealed in the Southern District of California on May 24, 2007, charging Tran and 13 others each with one count of conspiracy to participate in the affairs of a racketeering enterprise; one count of conspiracy to commit several offenses against the United States, including conspiracy to steal money and other property from Indian tribal casinos; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment also charged five separate individuals each with one count of conspiracy to commit several offenses against the United States, including conspiracy to steal money and other property from Indian tribal casinos; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. In his plea agreement, Tran admitted that in or about August 2002, he, with co-conspirators Phuong Quoc Truong, Van Thu Tran, and others, created a criminal enterprise defined in the indictment as the "Tran Organization" based in San Diego and elsewhere for the purpose of participating in gambling cheats at casinos across the United States. In his plea agreement, Tran adm”