The Clark County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday folded its felony case against gambler R.J. Cipriani in a deal that reduced the two charges against him to misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Cipriani had been accused of cheating and theft at Resorts World Las Vegas after he repeatedly informed management that several players with felony records were active inside the casino.
Cipriani, a casino high roller who goes by the moniker “Robin Hood 702,” declined to comment after the hearing. His attorney Robert Langford said the resolution of the case was the best decision for both parties.
“It is a compromise that involves both the merits of the case and the desire by everyone to just calm everything down,” Langford said. “Nobody wanted to go further with this case. No one. My client included. It’s a good compromise that hugely favors my client, and I appreciate the District Attorney’s Office’s willingness to negotiate this case the way they did.”
As part of the agreement, Cipriani can’t have contact or make negative or disparaging or harassing comments on social media about Resorts World or any employees or their family members for one year.
An initial motion to recall the no-bail warrant against Cipriani was filed last week by Chief Deputy Bernard Zadrowski and granted by Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Suzan Baucum. The judge had signed the original warrant for contempt after Cipriani failed to appear for a court hearing in early April, officially for medical reasons. He also faced the possibility of being remanded into custody without bail pending a future criminal proceeding.
Cipriani questioned the ownership of the Tacos El Cabrón restaurant on Resorts World property, as well as the gambling activity of convicted felons Robert Alexander, Edwin Ting, and accused bankruptcy fraudster Brandon Sattler.
Resorts World has stated repeatedly and emphatically that it was in full compliance with state gaming regulations and had fully informed Gaming Control Board investigators of the status of the ownership of the Tacos El Cabrón. One of its owners, Peter Stroj, is the father of David Stroj, a felon convicted of illegal gambling in a federal case in which he bragged about how easy it was for him to launder money through California card clubs and Las Vegas casinos. Two other men associated with the ownership of the taco shop were implicated in the case, CDC Gaming Reports reported April 27.
In an unrelated federal bankruptcy fraud case, former Resorts World gambler Sattler accused David Stroj of having ownership status in the taco restaurant. It’s a charge Resorts World officials denied.
Craig Kolk, another gambler implicated in the Stroj gambling case, recently received a trespass notice from Resorts World, where he has been a customer, according to informed sources. A call seeking comment from the casino’s management was not returned.
Cipriani for months has been a constant irritation for Resorts World management and its president, Scott Sibella. After experiencing what Cipriani described as harassment by Alexander, he grabbed the convicted-swindler’s cell phone and took it to the casino cage. Cipriani was later charged with robbery.
Cipriani, a well-known gambler who said he had played nearly 500 hours at Resorts World since its opening, was hit with a single count of cheating at gambling after reportedly adding to his bet at a blackjack table.
