Tai Khiem Tran age forty eight was a key figure in a San Diego based card cheating ring. The cheating ring took almost $7 million from several casinos. Tran was recently sentenced for his crimes and earned twenty nine months in prison along with having to forfeit more than $800,000.

Tran was one of the creators of the false-shuffling scheme that allowed the ring to know what cards were coming so they could know how to bet. The games used for the cheating scheme were mini-baccarat and blackjack. Casinos in the United States and Canada were targeted.

Tran is part of an extended Vietnamese family that formed the core of the cheating ring called Tran Organization. Over thirty people have pled guilty to having some connection in the case. Tran must surrender on December 21st to begin serving his sentence. To satisfy the debt he owes, the government will be seizing and selling his property which includes a 2006 Mercedes-Benz and several pieces of jewelry.





- 2009-11-18