Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats. He joined CasinoBeats in May 2025 and reports on industry-shaping stories across the US and beyond, including legislative debates, market...
Read Full BioA Middlesex County jury has acquitted a Pennsylvania man accused of killing a casino winner in New Jersey. The verdict ends years of prosecution attempts in a case that underscored both the limits of circumstantial evidence and the ongoing threats casinos and their patrons face from crime beyond the gaming floor.
Acquittal After a Trial of Circumstantial Evidence
In October 2021, Sree Aravapalli won $10,000 at Parx Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. He cashed his check and drove to his home in Plainsboro, New Jersey, where he was found shot dead.
Prosecutors claimed the defendant, Jekai Reid-John, and another man tracked him from the casino, followed him home, broke in, and that Reid-John allegedly committed the murder. They charged him with felony murder, armed robbery, burglary, multiple weapons offenses, and witness tampering.
The prosecution presented surveillance video, toll data, and a vehicle linked to Reid-John. Additionally, they found a loaded 9mm firearm after searching his residence and vehicle. However, the bullet casings from the crime scene were of a different caliber, not matching the gun they found.
Furthermore, no conclusive DNA or fingerprint evidence placed Reid-John inside the victim’s house.
After three weeks of testimony, a jury returned a not guilty verdict on murder, armed robbery, burglary, and weapons charges. Only a conspiracy to commit armed robbery charge remains unresolved, as the jury couldn’t come to a consensus. An earlier trial in May had ended in a hung jury.
The second man, Devon Melchor, faces charges of armed robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. Authorities took him into custody in 2021 while attempting to flee the country. He pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Other Robberies Connected to Casinos
The Aravapalli murder is not an isolated case. In Florida, a couple was injured after they won $3,000 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. After they left the casino, two masked men followed them home, ambushed them in their driveway, and robbed them.
In California, robbers targeted an armored car delivering cash to the Hustler Casino in Gardena. The criminals opened fire on security guards outside the casino, injuring two before fleeing.
Meanwhile, Caesars Entertainment is facing a lawsuit by the family of a man who was shot dead in a Caesars Palace hotel room on the Las Vegas Strip.
The plaintiffs allege that Caesars failed to maintain adequate security or follow through on policies. That includes recording interactions with sex workers or escorting them off premises, despite internal rules requiring these protocols.
Together, these incidents demonstrate that the risks associated with casinos extend far beyond the potential financial loss at the tables.
Larger Patterns: Violence, Liability & Casino Security Risks
Casinos are often targets of criminals due to the large amounts of cash on site and high foot traffic.
At the end of September, a shooter opened fire near an entrance of a Texas casino, killing two and wounding five.
In one of the most tragic incidents, in October 2017, a gunman opened fire on a music festival crowd at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, killing 58. MGM Resorts International, the property’s owner, later agreed to pay up to $800 million to the victims’ families.
Casinos have also faced threats tied to politically charged displays, such as a memorial sign for conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, underscoring how venues can become flashpoints for extremist intimidation.
The Reid-John case and the rest serve as a reminder that, alongside the chance of winning, casinos also carry risks that extend beyond the gaming floor.
