Judge to Rule on FBI Ruse Involving Poker Pro Paul Phua and Son
(Associated Press) - It's now up to a federal judge to decide whether the FBI improperly entered suites at a Las Vegas Strip casino in an illegal gambling investigation involving a Malaysian businessman (Paul Phua) and his son.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Leen said Thursday she'll make a ruling soon.
Leen spent three days hearing how undercover state and federal agents carried out a scheme to disconnect Internet service to several exclusive Caesars Palace villas then posed as repairmen to get inside.
Testimony showed the agents had no warrant but used the ruse to collect evidence to obtain one.
They also didn't have the permission of Caesars Palace, although a casino technical contractor cooperated.
Defense attorneys say the ruse constituted an illegal, warrantless search of private property. They want the federal criminal case thrown out.
