In the heart of one of New Jersey’s glitziest playgrounds, Atlantic City’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, unfolded a case of calculated theft and assault that had all the charm and light-heartedness of a poker game gone horribly wrong. On a day filled with suspense and high stakes, this incident marked the grim underbelly of the city’s gilded roulette wheels and flashing slot machines.
Robert Reed, aged 51, hailing from Newark, found himself in the eye of the storm when the jurors pronounced him guilty of multiple criminal charges, including second-degree robbery, third-degree charges of aggravated assault, theft by unlawful taking, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, at the hands of Superior Court Judge Dorothy Garrabrant.
Barring any unforeseen legal twists, come July 18, Reed could be staring down the barrel of a prison term that extends from five to up to ten years, reminding us all of the steep price one pays for ill-found fortune and temptation.
The victim of the incident, only identified as “D.H.” in police reports, hit a sweet $20,000 jackpot on a fateful night in March as Reed looked on. Seizing the opportunity, Reed ingratiated himself with D.H., effectively laying the groundwork for his sinister plot.
In the bright light of the following day, Reed spotted his mark checking out from the hotel located within the resort’s confines. A promise of a ride to the local bus station on account of a supposed missed bus resulted in D.H. and Reed heading towards the parking garage where D.H.’s car awaited.
What transpired next was as swift as it was shocking. In a quick turn of events, Reed smashed a wine bottle over D.H.’s head, snatched the jackpot winnings, and other possessions, before absconding from the scene. D.H. was left battered and bruised with his dream of bounty turned into a nightmare.
Fortunately, the injuries were not life-threatening. The police were alerted promptly and through close scrutiny of casino surveillance footage and Reed’s personal player’s card, he was identified as the prime suspect — illustrative of both the effectiveness and necessity of robust surveillance systems in high-traffic, money-rich environments like casinos.
As we trawl through the week, Reed awaits his fate from behind the steely bars of the Atlantic County Justice Facility, a figure marked by transgression and failed gamble in the city of dreams and dices.
Meanwhile, South Carolina is seeing another gambling-related incidence unfold. A local man, 25-year-old Bruce Leon Moore III, was apprehended on 22 different counts following a full-blown gambling raid last week.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) charged Moore with a single count of maintaining a gaming house and 21 individual counts of unlawful possession and operation of various gaming devices. Released from custody from the Greenwood County Detention Center, Moore now must contend with the consequences of his actions with local prosecutors set to review his case.
As all this comes to light, it remains to be seen if any other individuals will be charged in what seems to be a web of wrongs – a stark reminder of the darker side of the glitz and glamour that is casino life.
