US RICO lawsuit targets Resorts World over money laundering
Summary
A 95-page federal RICO complaint filed in Nevada accuses Resorts World Las Vegas leadership and associated parties of running a years-long racketeering scheme that allegedly enabled illegal gambling, money laundering and retaliation against a cooperating federal witness. The suit, brought by high-stakes gambler and FBI cooperator Robert J. Cipriani and businessman James Russell, names former Resorts World president Scott Sibella and attorney David Chesnoff among the defendants.
The filing alleges predicate acts from 2021–2023 including money laundering, wilful failure to file Suspicious Activity Reports and witness tampering. It references prior regulatory findings: the Nevada Gaming Control Board fined Resorts World and parent Genting Berhad $10.5m earlier in the year for systemic anti-money laundering failings, and points to limited internal reforms. Plaintiffs claim those steps did not fix structural compliance issues and seek damages and injunctive relief. The case also intersects with Genting’s New York expansion, where the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board recommended a licence despite noting omitted past violations in the company’s application.
Key Points
- The complaint is a 95-page federal RICO suit filed by Robert J. Cipriani and James Russell against Resorts World and named individuals.
- Defendants include ex-president Scott Sibella and lawyer David Chesnoff, accused of participating in an association-in-fact enterprise that ignored gaming laws.
- Alleged predicate acts span money laundering, failure to file SARs and witness tampering between 2021 and 2023.
- Nevada regulators fined Resorts World and Genting $10.5m earlier in 2025 for systemic anti-money-laundering breaches; plaintiffs say reforms were inadequate.
- The suit claims retaliation and attempts to silence a cooperating federal witness, including an alleged fabricated criminal case in late 2021.
- Sibella’s 2024 federal guilty plea for failing to file a suspicious activity report at MGM is cited as part of a wider pattern.
- The litigation could affect regulatory scrutiny and Genting’s ongoing New York licensing push, where omissions in applications were already flagged.
Why should I read this?
Quick and blunt: this isn’t just another casino spat. It’s a federal RICO suit that could reshape how regulators treat big operators, influence licensing decisions and raise compliance costs across the industry. If you work in gaming, payments, regulation or are tracking Genting’s US expansion, you’ll want the detail — it matters.
Context and relevance
Why it matters: the case brings together criminal-law allegations, regulatory fines and high-profile executives — a combination that tends to force deeper oversight and tougher compliance requirements across the sector. The timing is notable: Resorts World was already fined for AML failings and is pursuing expansion in New York; the lawsuit intensifies reputational and legal risks for the company and could signal heightened enforcement focus on US casino anti-money-laundering controls.
Broader implications: operators, vendors and advisers should re-check AML controls, SAR filing practices and whistleblower protections. Regulators and licensing bodies may use the suit and its findings to tighten due diligence and disclosure expectations in future licence rounds.
Source
Source: https://next.io/news/casino/rico-lawsuit-targets-resorts-world-money-laundering/
