The heist of $13,000 worth of casino chips from Encore Boston Harbor led to the arrest of a 35-year-old man this week. The man charged with the theft, Gary Hunt from Massachusetts, faces charges of larceny over $1,200 and larceny from a building, according to Boston TV station WCVB.
The incident unfolded around 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Hunt, who was seen sitting idly at a gaming table, kept standing up and sitting back down. He also frequently used his cell phone, according to Massachusetts state police. Witnesses reported that Hunt suddenly caused a distraction by loudly announcing that a player had just won a jackpot. As the surrounding crowd turned their attention to the supposed winner, Hunt allegedly seized the moment to grab 13 orange-colored $1,000 chips from a dealer’s tray.
Evading the casino floor, Hunt made his way to an emergency exit. Police pursued and apprehended him in a nearby parking lot, where they recovered many of the stolen chips. Another chip was found outside the casino, and additional reports indicated that Hunt had concealed two chips in a sneaker before later removing them.
Gary Hunt appeared in Malden District Court on Wednesday, where he was instructed to avoid returning to the Everett, Mass. casino and is scheduled to appear in court again on September 16.
In response to the situation, WCVB reported that Hunt has been struggling with addiction. His mother, former Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, expressed the family’s sorrow over the incident. She stated, “We are deeply saddened by the recent events involving our eldest son, Gary, which occurred within the context of his longtime mental health and addiction struggles. The path to recovery is not perfect, and he understands the graveness of this lapse. Our three sons have all been provided the love and care needed for a healthy life. This matter is a reflection of nature rather than nurture, as our three sons were raised with equal love and support. Gary is a graduate from an acclaimed university and his two brothers have gone on to achieve academic and professional success.”
She added, “Although we have continued to provide support and guidance, he has not been able to overcome his struggles. No family is exempt from these challenges and they are not unique to our family. Our family denounces this form of behavior while recognizing it as an unfortunate complexity of the human body.”
Baldelli-Hunt stepped down as mayor last year, citing health and family issues. A recent report concerning a land deal associated with her tenure was sent to law enforcement, according to GoLocalProv.com, a regional news site.
