HARRISBURG – Attorney General Michelle Henry, in collaboration with Pennsylvania State Police, announce that a Bethlehem man has been charged with perpetrating a scheme to alter video gambling vouchers, inflating the winnings, and cashing the vouchers at numerous locations in eastern Pennsylvania.
Anthony M. Diehl, 31, arrested earlier this week and charged by Pennsylvania State Police with felony corrupt organizations and related theft offenses.
Diehl was arraigned and bail was set at $100k unsecured.
Diehl allegedly altered the vouchers using chemicals and printers to inflate the winnings and cashed them, primarily at convenience stores and gas stations, either himself or by recruiting vulnerable individuals who needed money.
It is alleged that Diehl made thousands of dollars cashing the vouchers in multiple counties. Police found more than 100 altered vouchers on one of Diehl,s computers seized in the investigation.
“This defendant is charged with an elaborate scheme to take advantage of unregulated video gambling devices by inflating winnings to significant sums, Attorney General Henry said. He was predatory in his criminal operation, as well, recruiting vulnerable people to cash the altered tickets and return the profits to him.
“The Pennsylvania State Police is committed to putting a stop to fraudulent schemes and the criminals behind them, said Colonel Christopher Paris, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner. This arrest was the result of hard work and cooperation between PSP and the PA Attorney General’s Office.
The investigations remain ongoing. Investigators believe the vouchers that were redeemed involved combined payouts of more than $20,000.
This case is being prosecuted by the Office of Attorney General’s Organized Crime/Financial Crimes Sections. All charges are accusations. The defendant is innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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