Dealer and player charged in casino counterfeit scam

UPPER MERION » On Feb. 8 criminal complaints were filed in Montgomery County District Court against two men for their roles in a counterfeit cash scheme at Valley Forge Casino.

Former dealer, Long Vu Tong, 34, of Souderton, and Lieu Khang David Bui, 21, of Philadelphia, are charged with theft by deception, criminal conspiracy and forgery in connection with the exchange of fake bills for $4,000 in cash on the casino floor last fall.

According to arresting documents, Bui entered the casino around 7:11 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2017, and sat down at the Spanish 21 where Tong was dealing.

Bui removed $2,500 from his pocket, which Tong laid out on the table before depositing in a drop box and handing Bui $2,500 worth of chips.

Bui then played at the table briefly before cashing out and playing a little roulette, but returned to Tong’s table and presented another $1,500 which Tong accepted and exchanged for chips as before.

After playing a little while longer, Bui cashed out again and went to the cage to exchange his chips for cash.

Casino counters discovered that the bills Bui gave to Tong did not have embedded red and blue fibers and were not printed on genuine U.S. currency paper. And on Nov. 21, the bills were confirmed to be counterfeit by a Secret Service Agent.

On Nov. 28, and again on Nov. 29, Tong was interviewed by state troopers with the Valley Forge Gaming Office.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, he initially admitted only a passing acquaintance with Bui, but later said he received a phone call from Bui earlier on the day of the incident in which Bui informed him of his intentions to pass the counterfeit bills.

Tong told investigators that he initially thought Bui was joking and he told him not to do it, but Bui showed up at his table anyway so he “let it slide” and continued on with his work.

Tong also told investigators he later drove Bui to the King of Prussia Mall and voiced his displeasure at the situation by “cursing and telling him off.”

He said Bui offered him a cut, but he refused.

Preliminary hearings for both men are scheduled for March 7.