Michael John Mancini claims he is a lucky slots player. The RCMP says he’s a money-launderer with likely ties to drug-dealing and using B.C. casinos to enable his criminal activity.
The RCMP stopped Mancini for alleged drunk driving last October, and a search of his $45,000 car turned up nearly $30,000 in cash, a Lake City Casino check for $13,250, and crack cocaine.
Mancini told the police he won $300,000 playing slots, but the RCMP says British Columbia casinos paid him nearly $2.19 million from November 2014 to October 2015. The money, the RCMP says, is laundered to conceal criminal activity in which Mancini is involved.
The RCMP seized Mancini’s car, cash, check, and drugs, and Mancini contends he is just a lucky gambler and an unlucky driver.
Mancini’s attorney says he is a legitimate gambler and frequents British Columbia casinos, which led to a large gambling win during the time the RCMP says he laundered more than $2 million at provincial casinos.
The RCMP says Mancini can have his cash and car back – if he can convince a judge he didn’t obtain them through criminal activity. Other allegations against him have not been tried in court.
Lake City Casinos owner Gateway Casinos says all of its casino locations abide by anti-money-laundering laws and regulations, including requirements for reporting large or suspicious transactions.
