Ex-ABC manager gambled away $1.4M in stolen state funds at casino
Russel Hester, a 72-year-old former ABC store manager from Rutherfordton, North Carolina, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. The charges stem from his repeated misuse of a state-issued debit card to fund casino visits, where he won over $1.4 million in jackpots using embezzled funds. Between late 2021 and 2023, Hester used the state debit card 192 times to withdraw cash at the Catawba Two Kings Casino. His largest win came on July 4, 2022, when he initially cashed out $3,000 before hitting an $18,350 jackpot. Over time, his total casino winnings from the embezzled money reached $1,469,368.
The scheme unravelled during an independent audit in 2023. Investigators found that Hester had deposited his casino winnings into his personal bank account. To hide his actions, he submitted altered and falsified bank statements to the auditor. Hester now faces serious legal consequences. The wire fraud charge alone carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while the money laundering charge adds another potential 10 years. He remains free while awaiting sentencing, though no hearing date has been set.
The case highlights the misuse of state funds over an extended period. Hester’s guilty plea confirms his involvement in both fraud and money laundering. Sentencing will determine the length of his imprisonment, with penalties potentially reaching up to three decades.
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