Cypress Bayou GM, CFO arrested by state police

State police arrested the general manager and chief financial officer of Cypress Bayou Casino Wednesday on charges of felony theft, computer fraud and obstruction of justice.
On Feb. 17 troopers assigned to the Gaming Enforcement Section of the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations arrested two people for their alleged roles in committing theft and other crimes at Cypress Bayou Casino.
The arrests were the result of an internal investigation conducted by the Chitimacha Tribe as well as an investigation conducted by State Troopers. Louisiana State Police’s Indian Gaming Unit arrested Anthony Patrone, general manager of Cypress Bayou Casino and Monte Spivey, Cypress Bayou’s chief financial officer.
In January 2016, Louisiana State Police Gaming Unit received a complaint from the Chitimacha Tribe that a crime may have been committed by senior management at Cypress Bayou Casino. State Police Investigators alleged that Anthony Patrone manipulated the casino personnel’s database to show that a former inactive employee was active and qualified for an annual bonus of $5,700 dollars.
The payout was reportedly in the form of an electronic transfer of funds to the former employee’s bank account. During the course of the investigation, it was also learned that after the alleged bonus payment was electronically transferred, Patrone reportedly gave the directive to remove the former employee’s name from the database and conceal the electronic transfer of funds, which were facilitated by the casino’s chief financial officer, Monte Spivey, who was reportedly also responsible for reactivating the former employee in the database to justify the bonus payment.
Troopers arrested Patrone and Spivey on charges of felony theft, computer fraud, and obstruction of justice. They were both booked at the St. Mary Parish Jail.
This case remains under investigation.
Later in the day, Chitimacha officials released this statement:
“The Chitimacha Tribal Council, along with its regulatory and law enforcement agencies, have spent the past month in full cooperation with the Louisiana State Police regarding an investigation of a single incident involving casino employees but not involving any gaming activity. As a result of that investigation, today the Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel’s general manager and its chief financial officer complied with state police and turned themselves in. We are confident this entire situation will be dealt with expeditiously and we will be able to put this past us and move forward.
“The Chitimacha Tribal Council and Louisiana State Police reiterate their absolute dedication and commitment to maintaining the integrity of all tribal gaming operations and applying the highest standards of employee conduct regardless of position or title. The Chitimacha Tribal Council has activated a qualified and experienced interim management committee, as well as interim CFO, to ensure there is no interruption whatsoever in gaming facility operations or effective oversight of the Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel. Additional action will be instituted to finalize and complete this very thorough investigation and which will be completed in the very near future.”