Former Mayor’s Son Suspect in $13K Theft from Encore Boston Harbor

A casino patron at Encore Boston Harbor and son of a former mayor was recently arrested after allegedly stealing more than $10,000 in casino chips. The case involves Gary Hunt, who is reportedly facing charges after the alleged theft at the popular gaming and entertainment venue, as announced by WCVB.

Earlier this week, Encore Boston Harbor casino security filed a report that one of the visitors stole a large sum in the form of chips. After taking the chips, the suspect left the casino.

According to witness testimony, a man was sitting at a table but didn’t engage in any gambling activities on Tuesday. The same person was on his smartphone and went back and forth before creating a distraction that another player had won a significant amount of money.

The man used this distraction to take 13 chips from a dealer’s plate with each chip costing $1,000. After that, according to law enforcement, the man left the scene via an emergency exit. A police investigation identified Hunt as the suspect in the crime.

Hunt is one of the three sons of the former Woonsocket mayor, Lisa Baldelli-Hunt. In a statement released by WCVB, Baldelli-Hunt explained: “We are deeply saddened by the recent events involving our eldest son, Gary, which occurred within the context of his longtime mental health and addiction struggles.”

Stolen Chips Found, Suspect Arrested

The former mayor spoke about her son’s path toward recovery, explaining that it is a tough road that hides many obstacles. “This matter is a reflection of nature rather than nurture, as our three sons were raised with equal love and support,” added Baldelli-Hunt.

Baldelli-Hunt added that despite the support for her son, he still wasn’t able to “overcome his struggles.” According to her, no family can be protected by such issues. Finally, she denounced such behavior.

Hunt matched the description of the person suspected of the theft from Encore Boston Harbor. He was detained in a parking lot near the casino. Upon arresting Hunt, police uncovered some of the stolen chips on him. CCTV helped discover that three additional chips were stolen.

The former mayor’s son is reportedly facing charges for larceny from a building, as well as larceny over $1,200. Currently, larceny of over $1,200 is recognized as a felony offense and can be subject to a penalty of up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $25,000.

Still, it’s important to note that charges are merely allegations before proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.