Former Mohegan Sun official charged with theft

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — A marketing director who was fired last year from Mohegan Sun has been charged with embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from the eastern Connecticut casino in a scheme involving gift cards and perks for high-rolling gamblers, state police said.

Lynn Foster, 35, of Salem, was arrested on a first-degree larceny charge Aug. 1, The Day of New London reported in Friday's editions. Foster, a member of the Mohegan Tribe that owns the casino, was released on a promise to appear in Norwich Superior Court on Aug. 24.

Foster didn't return a phone message Friday, and it's not clear if she has a lawyer.

State police said she admitted stealing $15,000 worth of gift cards and about $20,000 in "nongaming comps" for gamblers because her family was having money problems. She was the casino's director of slots marketing at the time.

The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Commission began an investigation last year of player development employees and workers in the casino's Elemis Spa and found that Foster may have been involved in "some billing irregularities," according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Investigators also said other employees may have been involved in the irregularities, which included comps that wealthy gamblers can exchange for meals and casino merchandise.

A casino spokeswoman said Mohegan Sun officials weren't available for comment.

Foster told police she catered to about 500 customers, including some who declined gift cards and urged her to take them as gifts, the affidavit says. Authorities allege she eventually began requesting gift cards for customers and keeping them for her own use.

"She never thought she would get caught because this was small compared with all that goes on at the casino," the arrest warrant affidavit says.

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Information from: The Day