Crime & Safety

Two Lakewood Men Among 7 Indicted for Cheating at Horseshoe Casino

They are among the seven indictments handed down by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office.

Two Lakewood men are among seven indicted for cheating the Horseshoe Casino in Cleveland.

Nidal Abuaun, 49, and Philip Koch, 54, are each charged with cheating, a fifth-degree felony.

Maria Russo, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office, said the men are both suspected of “capping their bets” — making a bet after the cards are dealt. 

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Abuaun was playing Texas Hold 'Em, and Koch was playing Black Jack, said Russo.

Five others — four men from Cleveland and one from Akron — are also indicted for cheating at the casino, according to Russo.

Find out what's happening in Lakewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Ohio now has statutes in place to address crimes committed in the new casinos,” said prosecutor Bill Mason in a statement. “My office will continue to prosecute these crimes as we would any other crime in our county.” 

Arraignments for Abuaun and Koch are scheduled for July 18.


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