Four Get Jail Time for Botched Heist at Oklahoma Casino

A North Texas man’s night of fun at Choctaw Casino in Durant, Oklahoma, turned into a scary situation. Six months later, a Grayson County court has sentenced all four people involved in an armed robbery plan linked to the victim’s small casino prize.

Four Convicted in Southmayd Gunpoint Robbery Tied to Casino Prize

Prosecutors say the February event started after news spread that the man had won some money at the casino. By the time Stephan and Paige Sancho heard about it, the amount had grown much larger than the truth. Thinking they were going after a bigger jackpot, the pair came up with a scheme to steal the cash.

Paige Sancho lured the victim to her and her husband’s home in Southmayd, Texas, investigators reported. She then left, giving her husband and accomplice Dillon Winchester the signal to confront the man. They held him at gunpoint on the property and demanded his winnings. Shawn Gravette, another man, later helped the group escape.

The victim escaped this scary situation and called 911, which allowed police to find and arrest everyone involved. District Attorney John Kermit Hill said many Grayson County departments worked together on this case. He praised the investigators for bringing the criminals to justice, reported KXII.

The sentencing process lasted a few months. Stephan Sancho got 10 years in prison for aggravated robbery and organized criminal activity. His wife, Paige, received an 8-year sentence for robbery. Gravette also got 8 years for his involvement, while Winchester ended up with a 5-year term.

Law Enforcement Hopes Convictions Deter Future Crimes Near Oklahoma Casino

Assistant District Attorney Bi Hunt said that the sentences depended on each person’s part in the crime and their past criminal records. He pointed out that although the robbery seemed planned, the criminals acted on wrong information and went after a victim whose actual winnings were much lower than they thought.

Prosecutors have closed the case, feeling relieved that the incident did not result in physical harm to anyone. They pointed out that this situation reminds us how rumors can cause dangerous results.The Choctaw Casino, about 30 miles north of the Texas border, attracts thousands of North Texas visitors every week. It is often a place for celebrations, but sometimes criminal activities happen there, too. Law enforcement hopes this case’s outcome will stop people from trying similar schemes in the future.