| TRENTON
- Attorney General Zulima V. Farber announced
that a Division of Criminal Justice “12
Most Wanted” fugitive and former Virginia
lawyer has been sentenced to four years
in state prison after pleading guilty in
Atlantic County Superior Court to laundering
more than $250,000 in stolen monies through
an Atlantic City casino.
According to Division of Criminal Justice
Director Gregory A. Paw, Robert Short, 38,
formerly of Arlington, VA, was sentenced
by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge
Michael Connor to four years in state prison.
Short was extradited from Virginia after
being convicted on forgery charges related
to stolen checks from his former law firm.
The sentencing court ordered Short to pay
$244,859 in restitution.
Paw noted that Short pleaded guilty on Feb.
2 to a charge of second degree money laundering.
In pleading guilty, Short admitted to the
charges contained in a state grand jury
indictment returned on Feb. 21, 2003. The
indictment charged that after Short wired
$250,000 from a personal checking account
to the Taj Mahal Casino, he arrived at the
casino and withdrew a $10,000 casino marker.
The investigation determined that Short
gambled briefly at roulette and, after losing
approximately $1,000, withdrew the remaining
$240,000 from the casino. The investigation
revealed that Short had no gambling history
at the Taj Mahal Casino and, given the minimal
gaming activity, casino authorities notified
the Division of Gaming Enforcement of the
suspicious activity.
On March 4, 2003, law enforcement officials
from the Thomas County Sheriffs Office in
Colby, Kansas, contacted the Division of
Gaming Enforcement - State Police Casino
Investigation Bureau regarding Short. On
Feb. 26, 2003, Short’s vehicle was
stopped by Colby County Sheriffs Officers
patrolling I-70. The subsequent investigation
by the Thomas County Sheriffs office uncovered
a quantity of marijuana, hashish, a semi-automatic
handgun, and $207,000 in cash.
Short was arrested and charged with possession
of illegal drugs and weapons violations.
Short was released from custody on Feb.
27, 2003. The investigation next uncovered
information that Short, a lawyer and former
employee of the Law Office of Trapeni, Romero
& Morrison in Fairfax County, VA, was
wanted in VA on charges of forgery and theft
of nearly $500,000 from the Trapeni law
firm and from personal clients. Short was
subsequently convicted and sentenced on
the VA charges.
Short was listed as a Division of Criminal
Justice “12 Most Wanted Fugitive”
on Nov. 21, 2003. On Feb. 19, 2004, America’s
Most Wanted aired a segment which featured
Short and his flight to avoid justice. As
a result of the national television program,
the Division of Criminal Justice - Casino
Prosecutions Bureau received information
that Short was returning to the United States
from Sao Paulo, Brazil, on March 3, 2005.
Short was arrested by Dulles Airport Police
and U.S. Customs authorities as he attempted
to re-enter the country. The arrest ended
the 16-month fugitive status.
The prosecution was coordinated by Deputy
Attorney General Kerry L. Menchen of the
Division of Criminal Justice - Casino Prosecution
Bureau. The investigation was conducted
by New Jersey State Police Det. James Pearson
assigned to the Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Additional investigative support was received
from the Taj Mahal Hotel & Casino.
Additional information, including a copy
of the state grand jury indictment and defendant
photograph, is available via the Division
of Criminal Justice Web site at www.njdcj.org.
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