A serial casino scammer has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after he was convicted of tricking casino staff into giving him more than $10,000 in unwarranted payouts.
Shaun Benward, 38, of Mississippi was charged with fleecing employees at the Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood during a December 2018 visit. Agents and casino staff alleged that Benward, who reportedly has described himself as a magician and illusionist, used a variety of techniques to mislead the workers, including multiple outfit changes and using different tellers to remain undetected.
Benward was charged in Lyon County with money laundering, cheating at gambling and conspiracy, although he was not returned to Iowa to stand trial until he was arrested in Mississippi in April 2025. He was convicted of 13 separate felonies at trial in November…