Baccarat Dealer Receives 18-month Prison Sentence for Casino Cheating Scheme

The former Maryland MGM National Harbor dealer who helped to scam the casino out of more than $1million was this week sentenced to prison for 18 months.

Ming Zhang, a Baccarat dealer from Alexandria, Virginia, admitted his guilt on ‘one count of conspiring to transport stolen funds’ - the 32-year old showing the deck to co-conspirator players and allowing the cards to be photographed.

This allowed the players to place massive bets, the outcome almost assured due to Zhang’s help, resulting in the MGM losing $1,046,560.

When Zhang was charged last year, MGM National Harbor casino spokesman Malik Husser stated:

“Ming Zhang is no longer employed by MGM National Harbor. We have provided our full cooperation with authorities throughout this investigation.”

According to Marcia Murphy, a spokeswoman for US Attorney Robert Hur’s office, at the time Zhang was ‘the only person currently charged in the case’.

Although Zhang is believed to have helped commit a similar scam at another Maryland casino, that information was never disclosed and he was the only person indicted.

He had received $1000 for his part in the cheating scheme, later demanding more money from his accomplices before investigators pounced.

Zhang has been ordered to pay full restitution and was also sentenced to three months supervised release after his 18-month prison term ends.