Slots Technician Arrested for Theft From Casino Del Sol

TUCSON, Ariz. - Mark Anthony Valenzuela, 32, of Tucson, Ariz., was arrested in Tucson without incident on May 11 after a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against him for fraudulently printing and cashing slots tickets. The total amount of tickets printed with his access card was $269,000. He made his initial appearance in federal court on May 12. The indictment alleges that while employed as a slots technician at the Casino Del Sol from approximately November 2001 to May 2005, Valenzuela opened various slot machines under the pretext of performing a repair or conducting routine maintenance. Valenzuela then printed "winning" tickets with varying face values and later, had other individuals cash the tickets at the Casino Del Sol and return the proceeds to him. A conviction for Theft by Officer or Employee of Gaming Establishment on Indian Lands carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine or both. In determining an actual sentence, the assigned judge will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence. An indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI and the Pascua Yaqui Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Danny N. Roetzel, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.