Published on: December 3, 2025, 05:19h.
Updated on: December 3, 2025, 05:19h.
- Cipriani and co-plaintiff claim Resorts World Las Vegas intentionally allowed money laundering activities
- Plaintiffs argue that the casino resort is plagued by leadership issues, including its parent company Genting
- Former executive Scott Sibella is also named in the lawsuit
High-stakes gambler R.J. Cipriani, along with a co-plaintiff, has initiated a civil lawsuit under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act against Resorts World Las Vegas and its parent company, Genting Bhd. This action is notably rare within the casino sector.
The suit was lodged earlier today in the US District Court for Nevada, naming Genting executive K.T. Lim and former executive Scott Sibella as defendants. Sibella has previously faced allegations of permitting unregulated bookmakers to place illegal bets at Resorts World. The plaintiffs’ counsel contends that despite being established only four and a half years ago, Resorts World Las Vegas has rapidly gained a reputation for insufficient compliance protocols.
“Since its highly publicized Las Vegas debut in 2021, Resorts World has unequivocally demonstrated it is ill-suited to manage a casino and hotel complex in accordance with legal requirements,” the legal documents state. “Since its grand opening, Genting Berhad and Resorts World have continually exhibited their credentials as a corrupt racketeering organization, operating with blatant disregard for governance, corporate ethics, and the law.”
Cipriani’s co-litigant, industrialist Jim Russell, claims to have lost $10 million due to a fraudulent scheme orchestrated by black market bookmaker Brandon Sattler. The plaintiffs assert that Resorts World Las Vegas was complicit in allowing Sattler to gamble with his ill-gotten gains.
“Regrettably, Plaintiff Russell and other local business figures fell victim to a significant investment scam perpetrated by Defendant Brandon Sattler, a participant in the enterprise, who swindled Plaintiff Russell and his associates out of around $10 million,” the lawsuit states.
The Cipriani/Russell lawsuit was filed exactly one year after Sattler received a 51-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release for loan fraud.
Intriguing Developments in the Resorts World Las Vegas Lawsuit
Cipriani, also recognized as Robin Hood 702, has a well-documented association with the Genting-owned Las Vegas property. The launch of the civil RICO case coincided with Cipriani’s recent legal win, as the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit remanded another case he initiated against Resorts World back to district court for further consideration.
How the civil RICO case unfolds remains uncertain, but it appears that Genting and Resorts World could be confronting formidable opponents, as Cipriani has a comprehensive history of aiding federal agencies in recognizing illicit activities in casinos and prosecuting those involved.
“Thanks to his cooperation, the Department of Justice, state prosecutors, and regulatory agencies have successfully brought charges against organizations and individuals connected to wire fraud, illegal gambling, drug trafficking, money laundering, and other significant criminal behavior,” notes his legal team. “In this context, Plaintiff Cipriani has provided credible information that revealed criminal actions by casinos, illegal gamblers, money launderers, and other individuals involved in the criminal underbelly both in Las Vegas and globally.”
Compounding the intrigue surrounding the Cipriani/Russell lawsuit is its filing just two days after Resorts World New York moved closer to securing a permit for transitioning its existing slot-only facility into a full-scale Las Vegas-style casino.
An article released earlier today by The Nevada Current suggests that Resorts World New York, one of the top-grossing regional casinos in the US, neglected to disclose allegations of money laundering related to multiple Genting-operated gaming venues across the country.
This aligns with Cipriani’s claim that the leadership of Genting and Resorts World Las Vegas has adopted an overly relaxed approach toward money laundering issues. The legal documents indicate Cipriani wrote a letter to Lim regarding this matter in December 2021, but received no response.
Chesnoff and a Homeland Security Appointee Listed in the Lawsuit
Among the notable figures included as defendants in the Cipriani/Russell litigation is criminal defense attorney David Chesnoff. A key partner at the Las Vegas firm Chesnoff and Schonfeld, he was appointed to the federal Homeland Security Advisory Council in June.
“Defendant Chesnoff maintained close ties with Defendants Resorts World and Sibella, along with other illegal gamblers, fraudsters, and money launderers,” the court filing alleges. “In addition to representing various illegal gamblers, fraudsters, drug traffickers, and other criminals, Defendant Chesnoff invested in, participated in, and held business interests at Resorts World, which were exploited for money laundering and other unlawful activities.”
Chesnoff’s previous clients include artists like Cardi B and Lil Baby, as well as Henry Ruggs III, the ex-Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver currently incarcerated for a drunk driving incident in 2021 that resulted in the fatality of a woman and her pet.