2 charged after $45K ‘fraudulently obtained’ from B.C. casinos, police say

In this file photo, slot machines are seen at a Four Winds Casino location, Friday, June 12, 2020, in New Buffalo, Mich. (Don Campbell/The Herald-Palladium via AP) (DON CAMPBELL/AP)

Two people have been charged with fraud in relation to an alleged scheme targeting casinos around B.C.’s Lower Mainland, authorities announced Tuesday.

An investigation was launched in April of this year after reports that “fraudulent transactions had taken place” at multiple casinos, led by the Joint Illegal Gaming Investigation Team, which is a section of the province’s anti-gang police, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C.

Police say that between over a two-week period in March and April, about $45,000 was “fraudulently obtained.”

Two suspects, one of which was employed at a casino in New Westminster during the alleged fraud, were arrested on July 23, according to police.

The accused – identified as 50-year-old Yu Ju (Jessica) Lu of White Rock and 39-year-old Inderjit Singh of New Westminster – were formally charged with one count each of fraud over $5,000 on Nov. 12.

Both suspects turned themselves in to police and were released with conditions and a future court date.