Originally published June 15, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified June 15, 2007 at 2:02 AM
Mayor's son enters not-guilty pleas in casino case
Jacob Nickels, the son of Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging that he took part in a multistate...
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jacob Nickels, the son of Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging that he took part in a multistate casino-cheating ring that authorities say stole millions of dollars by bribing casino employees to falsely shuffle decks.
Jeffrey Robinson, Nickels' attorney, entered the pleas on his client's behalf at an arraignment Thursday before Magistrate Judge James Donohue in U.S. District Court in Seattle. Nickels listened attentively but said little during the brief hearing.
Nickels, 25, was charged with one count of conspiracy and four counts of theft of funds from gaming establishments on Indian lands. A total of 24 people have been charged by federal grand juries in Seattle and San Diego for allegedly cheating at 18 casinos in seven states and in Canada.
Nickels and four other men were charged in connection with the alleged cheating at the Nooksack River Casino, where he worked as a pit boss.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisca Borichewski said the government did not think it was necessary to detain Nickels after he entered his not-guilty pleas. Nickels was issued a summons but was not detained when the government made arrests last month in the investigation.
Robinson said Nickels is not a flight risk and "has spoken with and cooperated with investigators investigating this case since as early as October 2006."
Donohue released Nickels following the arraignment. He was ordered to surrender his passport. Trial is set for Aug. 13.
The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each of the theft charges carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Mayor Nickels did not attend Thursday's hearing. The mayor and his wife, Sharon, are in Chicago on a long-planned vacation, according to Marty McOmber, a spokesman for the mayor.
McOmber said the mayor's office had no comment on Jacob Nickels' arraignment and referred media calls to Robinson.
Federal officials accused Nickels of accepting $5,000 in 2005 as part of the scheme while working as a pit boss at the Nooksack River Casino in Deming, just east of Bellingham.
Nickels allegedly accepted the money in exchange for introducing the leaders of the scheme to casino card dealers, who later took part in the cheating conspiracy, according to prosecutors.
Seattle Times staff reporter Bob Young contributed to this report.
David Bowermaster: 206-464-2724 or dbowermaster@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
Seattle Times Fund For The Needy offers opportunity to give
Tugboat sinks on Seattle's waterfront
Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
Danny Westneat: Bonus for supe with a B minus?
Nicole Brodeur: You have more to spare than you think you do

LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham talks about the upcoming MLS Cup final during after a team practice.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
- Tugboat sinks on Seattle's waterfront
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Italian prosecutors request life sentence for UW student
- Man shot in chest on E. Union Street in Capitol Hill
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Mariners Blog | A Mariners-Tigers swap makes a whole lot of sense for both teams
- Senate vote clears hurdle
239 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
121 - Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
120 - Tight Senate vote launches health care over hurdle
119 - Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities
119 - Cutting through breast-cancer confusion
90 - Prosecutor requests life in prison for Amanda Knox
88 - Game thread
70 - New York terror trials will restore faith in rule of law
54 - Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
48
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Nonprofits get creative using Twitter and Facebook to make donation easier
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
- Great places to cross-country ski for free (or almost) in the Methow
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Recipes: Sesame Pork Roast, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce and more
- Banff: powder, peaks & purity
- 175 foster kids in Washington get 'forever families'








