Less than three weeks before the Super Bowl kicks off in Las Vegas, a prominent casino executive has pled guilty to federal anti-money laundering charges in a case that has ensnared multiple all-star players and handlers in numerous professional sports.
Scott Sibella, a longtime Las Vegas casino executive, pled guilty on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles to one count of failure to file reports of suspicious transactions required to be made by casinos, pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). Sibella, who served as president of the MGM Grand from at least 2017 until February of 2019, is facing a fine of $250,000 and up to five years in federal prison.
While employed at MGM Grand, Sibella allowed an illegal bookmaker to gamble at MGM Grand and affiliated properties with illicit proceeds, according to the plea agreement. The bookmaker, former minor league baseball player Wayne Nix, is awaiting sentencing on one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and one count of subscribing to a false tax return.
Sibella not only allowed Nix to gamble at MGM Grand, he authorized the bookmaker to receive complimentary benefits at the property, including meals, room, board, and golf trips with senior executives and other high net-worth customers, the U.S. Department of Justice wrote in a statement.'