Two lawmakers and lobbyist charged in casino incident

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Two state lawmakers and a lobbyist were charged Tuesday with misdemeanor crimes of presenting a false identification at a Boonville casino.

Cooper County prosecutor Doug Abele filed one criminal count each against Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis; Rep. Joe Aull, D-Marshall; and former Isle of Capri lobbyist Lynn Schlosser of Kansas City.

The charges stem from a July 31 incident in which Smith used a casino card issued to Aull to enter the gambling floor of the Isle of Capri Casino during a visit there by several lawmakers.

The misdemeanor charge carries a penalty of up to six months in jail and a $500 fine.

Gamblers at Missouri casinos are required to get special electronic cards as a way of enforcing a unique law that limits patrons to losing $500 per each two-hour gambling session.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol probable cause statement for the charges, casino surveillance tapes show Aull giving his gambling card to Schlosser, who then hung it around Smith's neck. Smith then showed the card as if it was his own and was allowed to enter the gambling floor.

Smith has said previously that he forget his driver's license and so could not get his own gambler's card. He has said Schlosser suggested it was fine to use someone else's casino card.

Smith, 33, who teaches political science at Washington University, declined to comment further Tuesday, saying simply: "I'll be discussing this in depth with my lawyer and will make a decision on how to proceed."

Aull, 59, a retired school administrator, indicated Tuesday that he intends to fight the charge.

"I believe that the charges against me are unfounded and I feel that I am not guilty," Aull said.

His attorney, Rob Russell of Sedalia, said Aull got the casino card for his own use and that Schlosser asked if she could borrow it to get Smith into the casino. Knowing Schlosser was a lobbyist for the casino, Aull assumed that was appropriate, Russell said.

Schlosser, 43, did not return a telephone message Tuesday seeking comment.

St. Louis-based Isle of Capri ended its lobbying contract with her on Aug. 6, shortly after the incident was publicized in the media.

Casino spokeswoman Jill Haynes declined to comment about why Schlosser was no longer its lobbyist and declined to discuss either the charges or the July 31 incident.

Missouri Gaming Commission Executive Director Gene McNary said a patrol investigation is continuing into whether the casino or any of its licensed employees did anything wrong. It would be up to the Gaming Commission to take any enforcement action, such as seeking fines or employee suspensions.

"We know of no violation at this point and time by the casino or any of its employees," McNary said.

Four state lawmakers now have been charged with crimes this year.

Rep. Nathan Cooper, R-Cape Girardeau, pleaded guilty in August to one federal count of visa fraud and one count of making a false statement to the Department of Labor as part of an immigration fraud scheme. He subsequently resigned from the Legislature.

Rep. John Bowman, D-St. Louis, was one of 17 people charged in a federal indictment in January in a bank and credit card fraud scheme. He has maintained his innocence.