A North Carolina man, Dharma Nadendla, 41, used a fraudulent check to obtain $865,000 in casino markers, which he quickly lost at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Dharma Nadendla, a Telugu based of Indian origin, presented a check supposedly from a credit union valued at $380,000 at the casino’s cashier’s cage. Based on this check, he received $865,000 worth of casino chips.
He proceeded to lose markers worth $500,000 and $365,000 while playing table games.
After losing the markers, Nadendla returned to his hotel room and called the cashier’s cage to secure yet another marker.
An Aria employee grew suspicious and examined the check more closely, discovering discrepancies in the check numbers.
The casino contacted the credit union in North Carolina and found out the check was fake and originally valued at just $174.80.
To apprehend Dharma Nadendla, the employee told him to come back to the casino floor to receive another marker. As Nadendla approached the hotel elevator, he was met by LVMPD officers alerted by the casino staff.
Dharma Nadendla faces charges of theft of $100,000 or greater, burglary of a business, and forgery. He posted bond and is scheduled to appear in Las Vegas Justice Court on August 28.
