As one of the leading gambling cities in the world, Atlantic City takes casino crimes very seriously. The New Jersey State Police (NJSP) has a Casino Gaming Bureau that consists of four units. One of these is the Financial Crimes Investigations Unit (FIU).
The FIU doesn’t investigate casino crimes like underage gambling or public intoxication. It investigates serious, high-dollar crimes. In fact, over three-quarters of the cases it investigates involve more than $75,000. Some cases involve many millions of dollars.
What kinds of crimes does FIU investigate?
Casino crimes have gotten increasingly more sophisticated over the years, and so have the resources used by law enforcement to try to thwart them and to bring those they believe are responsible to justice. Their investigations have resulted in people being sentenced to a decade or more behind bars for first or second-degree crimes.
The FIU’s cases typically involve crimes including:
- Embezzlement
- Racketeering
- Money laundering
- Identity theft
- Bad checks
- Credit card fraud
The FIU works in conjunction with a number of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including the IRS, the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI. The unit has considerable resources and contacts to help it find and investigate large-scale casino crimes.
If you passed a single bad check at an Atlantic City casino or you were caught using electronics to count cards, you’re likely not going to have to deal with anyone from the FIU. If you’re being investigated by the FIU, however, it’s imperative that you take the matter seriously. It’s wise to seek legal guidance as soon as possible to help you protect your rights and, if you end up facing charges, determine the best strategy for dealing with them.