Glenn Straub, who owned the former Revel Resort and Casino in Atlantic City for two years, was arrested in Florida on three felony charges involving false liens he filed against properties owned by an ex-girlfriend.
Straub owns the Palm Beach Polo & Country Club, which, according to the probable cause affidavit, filed fraudulent construction liens against properties owned by Jessica Nicodemo, 36, whom he dated for more than three years. Straub allegedly told Nicodemo the liens were done to protect him and keep Nicodemo in a relationship with him. He was concerned she would sell her house and move away, according to the affidavit.
Straub is charged with two counts of fraud and one count of grand theft in the case. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and was released on $11,000 bail.
Michael A. Gottlieb, Straub’s attorney in the case and a state representative, said his client is innocent of the charges.
“It was investigated to be a civil action, not a criminal action,” Gottlieb said, according to the South Florida Business Journal. “A request was made to get work performed, the work was performed, the work was not paid for, and a construction lien was filed. There was no fraud by Mr. Straub.”
Straub, who purchased the shuttered Revel out of bankruptcy court in 2015, announced a succession of grand plans for the casino, including circus acts and theme-park attractions, before missing several deadlines for reopening the $2.4 billion property. He ultimately sold it to developer Brue Deifik, who reopened the Boardwalk property as Ocean Resort Casino in 2018.
