Encore Boston Harbor Casino Theft: Cop Allegedly Steals Cash

Posted on: August 16, 2023, 05:05h. 

Last updated on: August 17, 2023, 07:42h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

A Boston police officer has been suspended for three months after allegedly stealing money from a wallet at the Encore Boston Harbor. She was off-duty at the time.

Encore Boston Harbor
Encore Boston Harbor, pictured above. A cop allegedly stole money from a wallet at the casino. (Image: Booking.com)

Officer Rebecca Leo recently reached a settlement in the case for the Aug. 7, 2022, incident at the Everett, Mass. gaming property, according to NBC Boston TV. She was found to have engaged in conduct unbecoming (for an officer) and larceny under $250, according to the news report.

The exact amount of the missing cash was not immediately known. But from the charge, it appears to be under $250. A patron lost the wallet, which Leo spotted. She then allegedly scooped the loot inside the wallet before it was turned over to authorities.

Leo’s suspension will last 90 days and runs between July 3 and October 1. She won’t get paid during the three months, and when she returns to duty, she will be placed on probation for three years.

Before her suspension, Leo worked for the department’s Bureau of Administration and Technology.

Overtime at Casino

This isn’t the first time police officers have gotten attention for money related to the casino.

In January, the Boston Herald reported how Everett police officers were earning significant overtime from working at the Encore casino. Two patrol officers received over $315K in gross earnings as salaries, while another two earned more than $200K.

Encore Boston Harbor “is a major player in the whopping overtime pay,” the Herald reported, quoting Everett City Councilor Stephanie Martins.

“A lot of the times, the officers do choose to still work regular shifts and pick up the overtime … (at) the casino,” Martins said. “They want to make as much as they can. They fully embrace those hours.”

Laundered Cash

In 2017, a Boston police officer was accused of stealing about $2K from an evidence room in the Hyde Park neighborhood in Boston, Boston TV station WCVB reported. He then allegedly attempted to launder the money at Plainridge Park Casino.

The officer put the cash into slot machines at the Massachusetts gaming property before picking up different currencies from the casino.

The officer was charged with larceny and money laundering, according to state Attorney General Maura Healey. It’s unclear how the case was resolved.

The money was stolen during a robbery and was covered by red dye released during the holdup.