New Jersey’s Casino Control Commission fines Trump Plaza $200,000 for race and gender discrimination against casino employees.
Between 1986 and 1988, Plaza management moved black and female dealers around in the casino to make sure that only white men dealt cards for Gambino crime family member Robert LiButti.
The division charged that LiButti’s alleged tirades against black and female dealers prompted the casino to discriminate between 61 and 67 times for two years ending in May 1988. The division had sought fines of between $10,000 and $15,000 for each violation, which would have meant a fine between $610,000 and $1 million.
The Associated Press
Employees testified that the discrimination stopped after another Atlantic City casino was fined $250,000 for similar favors for LiButti.
In November, the Plaza is fined again after an investigation concludes that the company evaded gambling laws to arrange $1.6 million in payments to the mobster.
Trump claims he doesn’t know anyone named Robert LiButti. The gambler’s daughter says that’s a lie.
Of course he knew him. I flew in the helicopter with Ivana and the kids. My dad flew it up and down. My 35th birthday party was at the Plaza, and Donald was there. After the party, we went on his boat, his big yacht. I like Trump, but it pisses me off that he denies knowing my father. That hurts me.
Edith Creamer, daughter of Robert LiButti
Trump Plaza president Jack O’Donnell later says that, during one of these helicopter trips, Trump agreed to pay LiButti $500,000 for one of his racehorses. Trump wanted to rename the horse “D.J. Trump” but backed out after the horse went lame.
Footage from WrestleMania IV, held in Atlantic City on March 27, 1988, shows Trump and LiButti together. They’re seated in the front row with Ivana.
Another photo shows the pair together three years later, in September 1994.
A New Jersey state law enforcement file from March 1991 reads: “Respondent is an associate of John Gotti, reputed boss of the Gambino organized crime family of New York City. Respondent gambled at four Atlantic City casinos between 9/84 and 10/90 gambling almost $20 million and losing almost $12 million. He has received complimentaries in excess of $3.5 million.”
External Sources
The Associated Press (Archived)
NJ Office of the Attorney General (Archived)
Photo: Ed Schipul
