TRENTON
- New Jersey Attorney General Peter C.
Harvey announced that a Division of Criminal
Justice “12 Most Wanted” fugitive
has been returned to the State of New
Jersey to face trial on charges of laundering
more than $250,000 in stolen funds through
an Atlantic City casino.
Vaughn L. McKoy, Director, Division of
Criminal Justice, said that Robert Short,
38, formerly of North First Street, Arlington,
VA, was extradited to New Jersey and returned
to the Atlantic County Jail by State Investigators
assigned to the Division of Criminal Justice
yesterday (Wed., Dec. 21). Short remains
in custody in the Atlantic County Jail
and is scheduled to appear in Atlantic
County Superior Court on Jan. 5 for arraignment
and bail.
Director McKoy noted that Short, listed
as a Division of Criminal Justice “12
Most Wanted” fugitive, was arrested
on March 3, 2005, at a Washington D.C.
airport while attempting to re-enter the
United States from Brazil. The arrest
ended the 16-month fugitive status of
the Virginia lawyer, charged via a Nov.
25, 2003 State Grand Jury indictment with
laundering more than $250,000 in stolen
money through an Atlantic City casino.
The charges, which include second degree
money laundering, resulted from the theft
of more than $436,000 from a Virginia
law firm. Short faces up to ten years
in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000
if convicted on both counts of the criminal
indictment.
McKoy noted that on Feb. 19, America’s
Most Wanted television program 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. Short was arrested by Dulles
Airport Police and U.S. Customs authorities
as he attempted to re-enter the country
after disembarking from a United Airlines
flight. Short was initially taken to the
Fairfax County (VA) jail where he was
held pending extradition to New Jersey.
The State Grand Jury indictment charged
that on Feb. 21, 2003, Short wired $250,000
from a personal checking account to the
Taj Mahal Casino. On Feb. 22, it is alleged
that Short arrived at the Taj Mahal 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, 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 in Short’s
vehicle. Short was arrested and charged
with possession of illegal drugs and weapons
violations. Short was released from custody
on Feb. 27. 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. It is alleged that Short stole
$436,000 from the Trapeni law firm.
The investigation was coordinated by the
Division of Criminal Justice - Casino
Prosecutions Bureau, the Division of Gaming
Enforcement and State Police Det. James
Pearson. Deputy Attorney General Kerry
L. Menchen of the Division of Criminal
Justice - Casino Prosecution Bureau presented
the case to the State Grand Jury. The
indictment, handed up to Mercer County
Superior Court Judge Neil H. Shuster on
Nov. 21, is assigned to the Atlantic County
Superior Court for trial. Additional investigative
support was received from the Taj Mahal
Hotel & Casino.
Additional information, including a copy
of the State Grand Jury indictment, defendant
photograph, and information on the Fugitive
Tip Line, is available via the Division
of Criminal Justice Web site at www.njdcj.org.
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