In an unprecedented move that highlights the seriousness with which Nevada handles casino-related crime, Neal Ahmed Hearne has been nominated for inclusion in the state’s infamous index of undesirables—the “black book.” This roster, a part of casino lore, effectively bars those inscribed from entering any gaming establishment within the state’s jurisdiction, sealing their fates as personae non gratae in the world of Nevada gambling.
This stern nomination occurred during the recent assembly of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, where Senior Deputy Attorney General John Michela presented surveillance footage clearly depicting Hearne purloining chips from players at a gaming table within the Aria Resort and Casino. This incident, dating back to January 2018, eventually led to Hearne’s conviction on charges aligned with his misdemeanor.
The case against Hearne wasn’t lightweight. He met all three stringent criteria essential for black book candidacy: a felony conviction under his belt, a separate conviction indicating moral turpitude, and an existing judicial edict banning him from casino properties. Such a trio of transgressions placed Hearne squarely in the sights of the board, with Gaming Control Board Chair Kirk Hendrick remarking on the necessity of the nomination. According to Hendrick, Hearne’s “brazen” practices posed a real risk of escalating into something more perilous than simple theft.
Pending a forthcoming decision by the five-member Nevada Gaming Commission, should they vote in agreement, Hearne will be immortalized as the 37th individual to receive the dubious honor of entering the black book—which, in itself, is a dishonor just to be considered for.
Once notified of his imminent blacklisting, Hearne will be afforded the chance to mount a defense, potentially requesting a hearing before the commission to challenge his black book inclusion. In this setting, he is entitled to appoint legal representation, affording him the opportunity to refute the grounds of his nomination with requisite evidence.
Earlier, in an act of unanimous consensus, the commission appended Shaun Joseph Benward to the catalogue of the condemned. This Mississippi-born illusionist, notorious for applying distraction techniques to defraud roulette dealers, became entry number 36.
The legacy of the black book persists not only in infamy but in ongoing surveillance. Every few years, the attorney general’s office revisits the list, weeding out the names of those confirmed deceased, ensuring the record reflects only the living and the excluded.
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