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Robert Alexander, a former high-stakes gambler and the founder of the online gaming company Kizzang is scheduled to be sentenced on January 14, 2024, after pleading guilty to multiple fraud charges more than four years ago. Alexander, who once lived the life of a Las Vegas casino high roller, admitted to defrauding investors out of over $1.3 million, funds that he misused for personal expenses, including gambling, luxury cars, and rent.
In January 2020, Alexander was convicted of one count each of securities fraud and wire fraud. The charges stem from his fraudulent activities as the founder of Kizzang, a Nevada-based limited liability company he established in 2013. Kizzang offered free online games and contests but ceased operations in 2017. Court records cited by the Las Vegas Review-Journal indicate that Alexander took large sums of money from investors intended for business purposes and instead used them for personal gain.
Of the stolen funds, Alexander withdrew nearly $280,000 at various casinos and spent close to $580,000 on rental expenses for his personal residence. His misuse of investor funds led to his indictment in 2019, and under federal sentencing guidelines, he now faces a prison sentence of up to 27 months.
Health-Related Delays in Sentencing
Since his guilty plea in 2020, Alexander’s sentencing has been delayed multiple times, primarily due to claims of poor health. His attorney has requested several postponements, all of which have been granted by the U.S. District Court for Southern New York. After these years of postponements, Alexander’s sentencing is now set to proceed early next year.
Beyond his fraudulent activities, Alexander was also linked to an altercation with well-known professional gambler Robert “RJ” Cipriani at Resorts World Las Vegas in 2021. The incident at the Strip casino led to Cipriani, who is known on social media under the handle “Robinhood 702,” being arrested and charged with larceny and robbery. These charges were dismissed in 2022.
Resorts World Las Vegas, which opened in June 2021, has been the site of several gambling scandals, some involving high-profile figures in the world of sports and entertainment. One such case involved illegal bookmaker Mathew Bowyer, who frequented the casino. Bowyer was the bookie for Ippei Mizuhara, former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.
Resorts World and Ongoing Investigations
Scott Sibella, former president and chief operating officer of Resorts World Las Vegas, has also been entangled in controversy. Sibella, who held his position from 2019 until his departure in September 2023, pleaded guilty to violating the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act during his tenure overseeing MGM Grand. Nevada gaming regulators are reportedly investigating Sibella, though details of the inquiry have yet to be disclosed publicly.
In August, Nevada gaming authorities filed a 12-count complaint against Resorts World, alleging that individuals with ties to illegal bookmaking and organized crime had been “welcomed” and encouraged to gamble at the casino. The complaint accuses Resorts World of fostering an environment that allowed these figures, many with federal convictions, to continue their illegal activities.
