Police: Gambler Brought Counterfeit Money to Sands

A Montgomery County man is accused of photocopying no less than 52 counterfeit $100 bills and using them to gamble at the , according to court records.

Pasquale Capasso, 46, of Pennsburg, is facing felony forgery and theft charges, which were filed by Pennsylvania State Police gaming officers on Wednesday.

Troopers launched an investigation on July 8 after casino personnel discovered 39 counterfeit $100 bills in the soft count room, a secure place where paper currency is counted, court records say.

Troopers confirmed the bills were counterfeit by referring to the U.S. Secret Service Website. State police then reviewed nine hours of casino surveillance footage, concluding that Capasso was the primary suspect.

Then, according to the arrest affidavit:

• Capasso was closely monitored as he continued to play on the casino floor on July 8. He paid $300 to buy into a blackjack game. As soon as he was finished playing at the table, the drop box was immediately inspected and three counterfeit $100 bills were discovered inside.
• On July 12, Capasso returned to the Sands and police immediately began to monitor his activities. Notice was given to the pit boss and dealers that any bills received from Capasso should be clearly folded to allow them to be easily separated from other bills in drop boxes.
• Capasso used 10 $100 bills to buy into a roulette game in the casino’s Plaza Room. As soon as play was complete, the roulette table’s drop box was inspected in the soft count room. Ten folded $100 bills inside the box were counterfeit.
• State police took Capasso into custody. After being given his Miranda warnings, Capasso admitted to police that he had photocopied the counterfeit bills at home.

Capasso was arraigned on Wednesday before and released on $15,000 unsecured bail.