Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn, whose company Wynn Resorts is to build a multi-million-dollar hotel and casino complex in Everett, Massachusetts, has been listed as a potential government witness in a case targeting three of the former owners of the land where the said resort is to be located.
In October 2014, Charles Lightbody, Anthony Gattineri, and Dustin DeNunzio were convicted with a number of offenses, including wire fraud and conspiracy. All three were among the owners of the parcel of land where Wynn Boston Harbor is to be built, with Lightbody, a convicted felon and a person with alleged connections with the New England underground, holding a 12% interest.
Mr. Wynn’s casino operator was one of three to receive licenses for the construction of full-scale casino complexes across Massachusetts. Wynn Resorts was initially asked to pay the amount of $75 million for the parcel where the venue is to be located. However, authorities found out about Mr. Lightbody’s stake in the portion of land and the gambling operator eventually paid $35 million for it.
Under the Massachusetts casino laws, convicted felons are prohibited from gaining any benefit from the operation of a gambling facility. According to federal prosecutors, Mr. Lightbody was well-aware of that fact and due to this, he and his associates redrafted certain bank and property documents to make it look as if he had no financial interest in the planned hotel and casino resort on the Everett waterfront.
As mentioned above, Mr. Wynn was among those listed as potential government witnesses in the case in a court filing submitted by US Attorney Carmen Ortiz on Wednesday. The indictment states that the casino mogul as well as the Massachusetts Gaming Commission are actually victims in the federal court case. The jury selection is expected to begin on Monday, April 11.
Construction work on Wynn Boston Harbor was scheduled to commence this spring. However, the project has been held up due to a legal dispute between Wynn Resorts and the city of Somerville. The resort was expected to open doors late in 2018. Its launch, however, will likely be delayed due to the court battle with above-mentioned city, located not far from Everett.
Mr. Wynn has previously said that the construction of Wynn Boston Harbor would cost an approximate of $2 billion.
