Facing increased charges of casino cheating and theft following his April 7 preliminary hearing in Las Vegas Justice Court, gambler R.J. Cipriani is taking a novel approach to his defense.
He’s going on offense.
Cipriani, who also goes by “Robin Hood 702,” has written a letter to Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, claiming he is getting a raw deal from Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, whom he alleges has a conflict in the case due to his relationships with Las Vegas defense attorney and generous campaign contributor David Chesnoff, as well as executives at Resorts World Las Vegas.
It’s there, authorities contend, Cipriani was observed last fall moving his chips while playing two hands of blackjack. After an incident involving the cellphone of former Resorts World gambler and convicted fraudster Robert Alexander, Cipriani was arrested.
But he strongly suspects his troubles stem from his social-media criticism of Resorts World executives and his accusation that the Strip’s newest resort was catering to players with checkered pasts, including convictions for illegal gambling and money laundering. Among the names he’s dropped: Alexander, Brandon Sattler, Edwin Ting, and Dave Stroj.
California resident Cipriani is represented by criminal-defense veteran Dan Hill, who argued against the increased charges in Justice of the Peace Suzan Baucum’s courtroom. The judge revoked Cipriani’s bail after he failed to appear at the hearing. He has informed the court that he suffers from a back injury requiring surgery and has declined to travel, citing a medical hardship.
In his April 8 letter to Ford, Cipriani describes himself as having worked with the Department of Justice and the FBI “for over a decade, which has resulted in bringing literally hundreds of criminals to justice.” Although he failed to mention it, Cipriani also has had his own brushes with the law.
“Resorts World has allowed multiple criminals to gamble at their casino despite them not being allowed in any other casino in the country,” Cipriani writes. “One of them is Robert Alexander, who pled guilty in 2020 to securities fraud for participating in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme, lying to investors and misappropriating investor funds and is awaiting a 20- to 40-year sentence.”
A copy of the letter has been sent to Gaming Control Board Chairman Brin Gibson.
A Resorts World spokesperson has previously stated that the casino and its executives are in full compliance with the law and Nevada gaming regulations.
Cipriani said his case was in the process of being resolved, but when he refused to stop criticizing Resorts World management on social media as a condition of his settlement, his troubles really began. He also pleaded his case in the press.
“After an article came out in the Nevada Current, which reported on the series of events and to my benefit, I might add, suddenly, Wolfson did an about face,” he writes. “Wolfson next offered numerous plea deals – all which involved no longer Tweeting publicly about illegal activity going on inside Resorts World. I rejected that. This was clearly a setup to protect Alexander, Chesnoff, and Resorts World from the public knowing about all the illegal activity.”
Cipriani said he reported the gamblers to the FBI and the Gaming Control Board. Emails he produced appear to confirm this. My attempts to independently confirm were unsuccessful. Resorts World officials have largely refused to engage Cipriani publicly. Chesnoff declined to comment.
“I am an upright citizen with a clean record who has helped get hundreds of criminals off the street. I am not a criminal by any means,” Cipriani writes. “I have no other avenue of receiving justice, but for your office who oversees illegal activity/conflicts of interests by state officials.”
The subject of Cipriani’s accusations was mentioned briefly during the recent Gaming Control Board licensing hearing of Resorts World executives, all of whom received full approval from the state.
