Normandie Casino Roof Collapse
On 16 February 2003, Presidents’ Day, half the Roundhouse’s huge roof collapsed under the weight of a record-breaking snowfall. Tons of snow, slate, wood and iron fell onto some of the most important trains and rolling stock. A structural engineering study after the roof collapse discovered flaws in the original building designs. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell confirmed a second death Saturday night, and said a third person remained missing, after a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino building under construction in the city's. A near miss with a 500kg bomb eliminates Guardhouse No 5. The concussion wave causes the collapse of the walls and the roof folds in on itself killing the majority of the crew. Guardhouse No 5 had collected other troops from field positions when it was hit and a total of 8 troops were killed with another 3 seriously wounded.
The NormandieCasino located in Gardena, California will be shutting its doors for good; or at least until they can find someone to purchase the property from them. This didn’t come as a big surprise to most, as they have been under scrutiny since 2013 when they were investigated for violating anti-money laundering laws. The casino has been operating for over 75 years, and is the oldest card clubs in California; changing its name from the WesternClub to the Normandie in 1947.
Miller Family & Felony Charges
When the California casino changed its name in 1947, it was thanks to RussMiller, who purchased the property from the previous owners, and has been in the Miller family ever since. It was in April that the California Gambling Control Commission decided to revoke their license, as the four Miller sons, Lee, Larry, Greg, and Steve, were convicted of federal felony money laundering charges.
The money laundering charges are said to have originated back in 2013 when the Normandie Casino failed to properly record and report large-scale cash transactions. Back in January of this year, they plead guilty to the charges and promised to pay back the $1.3 million that slipped through the holes. This was done, as Mark Werksman, the attorney representing the casino stated,
“The Normandie has cooperated with the government to resolve this case in a positive way that allows the club to move forward from this investigation and to continue doing business as it has for the past 70 years, as the best gambling establishment in Southern California.”
Despite this, the United States government doesn’t take these charges lightly, as it could open up a can of worms that will be hard to contain.
Selling the Cali Casino
The owners of the popular Cali casino are actually trying to sell the property, hoping that the employees and services remain. The federal judge has given them four months in order to do just that, as a way to let them get their affairs in order. One possible buyer would be LarryFlynt, the current owner of HustlerCasino, also in California.
Normandie Casino Roof Collapse Options
When the Hustler Casino was built, it took patrons away from the Normandie and seemed to speed up their demise. However, now that these convictions have come to light, Flynt may get a good deal on the property, as it is rumored he has plans of converting it into a Las Vegas-style casino. It would be a shame to lose another casino card club.