One sentenced in casino theft scheme

ST. LOUIS -- One of six people accused in a scheme to steal more than $2 million from St. Charles' former Station Casino was ordered Friday to spend two years and three months in federal prison and pay $1.9 million in restitution.

Samarian Tillman, 29, of the St. Louis suburb of Dellwood, was among six former Station Casino workers indicted in February.

Tillman pleaded guilty earlier this year with four co-defendants to one count of conspiracy to transport stolen property. Tillman also admitted he transported stolen property.

The status of the case involving the sixth defendant, Dionna Ware, 28, of Caseyville, Ill., was not immediately available Friday. She is accused of plotting to transport stolen property and of transporting stolen property.

Prosecutors have alleged the six were employed by Station Casino -- bought in 2000 and now run by Ameristar Casinos Inc. -- as floor workers responsible for paying slot machine jackpots.

Between January 1998 and March 2001, the government said, they created false jackpots, kept the false winnings, and destroyed or hid the paperwork required to issue the jackpots.