Ex-dealer to plead guilty in Las Vegas casino cheating case

LAS VEGAS (AP) - An ex-casino dealer is due to take a plea deal in an agreement to testify against three co-defendants accused of stealing more than $1 million in a craps betting scheme at a Las Vegas Strip resort.

Prosecutor Jay P. Raman and defense attorney Amy Chelini say former Bellagio dealer James Cooper Jr. is expected to plead guilty Thursday to a felony theft charge.

He's expected to face one to five years in state prison at sentencing.

A judge set bail at $160,000this week for former Bellagio employee Mark William Branco, and $125,000 for Branco's brother-in-law, Jeffrey Martin.

Co-defendant Anthony Granito is hospitalized after having open heart surgery.

Cooper and Branco allegedly took bets from Martin and Granito after the dice roll was known, or paid whether their bets won or not.