Group accused of using skimming devices at video arcades

VERO BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The suspects claimed to be using lightbulb testers at a casino in Indian River County.

But deputies in Indian River County say those testers turned out to be skimming devices.

Last Friday, the sheriff's office arrested Kevin Daquan Graham, 26; Andrea Wallace Devaughn, 44; Jordan Thomas Maple, 25; and Harriett Antente Patterson, 44; all on charges of organized scheme to defraud.

Investigators said three of the men are caught on surveillance using the devices on the video arcade machines. A worker at the Magic Palace Casino told investigators he cashed out Graham, Maple, and Devaughn before noticing a discrepancy in the inventory. The men had already left the casino and drove off in a Dodge Journey with Patterson.

The sheriff's office said a similar incident happened at the Sun City Casino where deputies eventually took all four into custody for questioning.

Graham told investigators they were on their way to Gainesville from Charlotte, North Carolina, when they stopped at the Magic Place Casino. He said he won $350 there before moving on to the Sun City Casino where he didn't win a penny. When asked about the device in his possession, Graham said it was a lightbulb tester. Then he said he only used it at the Magic Palace, and once at Sun City. He said it was his first time and that he was new to "this stuff."

Investigators found several similar devices in a white bag in their vehicle. Graham said the bag and its contents, including the two devices, belonged to him. He called them "jammers."

Devaughn shared a similar story with investigators. According to the arrest report, he said they were all headed to Miami to gamble. They stopped at the Magic Palace Casino where Devaughn said he won $288. He said he didn't win anything when they stopped at the Sun City Casino. He also described the device as a lightbulb tester that could be used for "other things." He initially denied using it on the arcade machines at the Magic Palace, but then said the device was supposed to "give me money or something." He said he inserted the antenna into the arcade machine but it wouldn't work.

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Detectives found a brown bag where Devaughn was sitting. It contained six devices that matched the description of the devices seen in the video. Devaughn eventually admitted he brought the devices down from Charlotte and that the brown bag was his.

Patterson, according to investigators, was the driver and waited outside in their vehicle as the others did their business inside the casinos. Deputies found 14 bank cards and a driver's license under a different name in Patterson's purse. They also found a check book in the name of another individual in her luggage. Of the 14 bank cards, five had unique names. Patterson, according to the report, claimed she didn't know any of the people. She also said she found the check book and bank cards at a laundromat in Charlotte.