State AG announces arrests in tribal casino embezzlement case

Saturday 23rd November 2019

FAIRFIELD -- California's attorney general this week announced the arrests of Luc Mooc and Prak Pich for an alleged embezzlement scheme that resulted in the theft of more than $200,000 from the Red Hawk Tribal Casino in Placerville.

"My office stands ready to fight back against those who try to get rich quick by breaking the law," Xavier Becerra said in a press release. "The California Department of Justice will do its part to tackle criminal activity in our state."

The arrests were the result of a joint effort between the California Department of Justice's Bureau of Gambling Control and surveillance staff at the casino.

Pich, a floor manager at the casino, is suspected of extending credit lines to Mooc, a casino patron, and then falsifying documents to make it appear as if the credit line had been paid back.

These short term, no-interest credit lines are commonly extended by casinos to allow approved patrons easy access to gambling funds with the understanding that the temporary loan would be repaid within a short period of time. However, instead of paying back the loans, Mooc and Pich are suspected of conspiring to steal the funds that would range anywhere from $12,000 to $14,000 at a time.

Mooc and Pich were booked into custody at the El Dorado County jail, the Attorney's General's Office reports. Bail was set at $200,000.