Former MGM Grand casino president sentenced to probation for violating anti-money laundering rules

Scott Sibella, a former top executive at major Las Vegas casinos, has been sentenced to a year of probation after pleading guilty to violating federal anti-money laundering regulations. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee, also includes a fine of $9,500 and a $100 special assessment.

In January, Sibella pleaded guilty to contravening federal AML regulations, which mandated the casino to report suspicious transactions. Sibella admitted to allowing an illegal bookmaker to gamble millions of dollars at the MGM Grand and settle debts with cash, The Associated Press reported.

Judge Gee noted that Sibella “turned a blind eye” to potentially illegal behavior but considered his cooperation with investigators and clean criminal record when deciding against prison time.

Before the sentencing, Sibella apologized to his family, friends, and former employers, expressing remorse and vowing to avoid future legal trouble.

Facing up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, Sibella's attorneys had advocated for probation, submitting over 80 letters of support, including one from Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill.

The MGM Grand and Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, implicated in the case, settled related charges stemming from a U.S. Justice Department money laundering investigation by paying $7.45 million and agreeing to enhanced anti-money laundering measures.

Nevada casino regulators are now separately deliberating potential penalties against Sibella, including revocation or suspension of his state gambling license and fines up to $750,000.

The illegal bookmaker involved in Sibella's case, Wayne Nix, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to illegal gambling activities and tax fraud. According to Sibella's plea agreement, he allowed Nix to gamble with proceeds from illegal activities without notifying the casino's compliance department.

In a statement released by his attorneys, Sibella accepted full responsibility for his actions and asserted that he gained no personal, professional, or financial benefit from his wrongdoing.

Sibella served as president and COO of MGM Grand for eight years before leading Resorts World Las Vegas until 2023. His dismissal from Resorts World in 2023 followed allegations of policy violations.

The case coincides with a broader Justice Department investigation into illegal sports gambling operations in Southern California laundering money through Las Vegas casinos. The most notable case involves Ippei Mizuhara, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter.