Cops: Man admits 4 AC casino robberies

By WAYNE PARRY | Associated Press Writer
October 24, 2007

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - A man arrested Tuesday after trying to rob a cash advance teller at one Atlantic City casino confessed to robbing four gambling halls since July, State Police said.

Jason Herring, 33, of Jersey City, was captured shortly before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday outside the Atlantic City Hilton Casino resort, holding a pellet gun and $10,500 in cash, still wrapped in a Hilton money wrapper, Lt. Bill Carey said.

Herring first tried to stick up a teller at a cash advance window in the former Claridge casino, which is now part of Bally's Atlantic City, Carey said.

"He shows a handgun and demands money, but the teller refuses, and he bolts out the door," Carey said.

State Police set up surveillance points at several locations in the casino zone which they had staked out during the summer after nearly identical robberies at the Showboat Casino-Hotel, and Caesars Atlantic City.

About 45 minutes after the robbery at Bally's, a man fitting the description of that robbery was seen coming out of the Hilton, and police arrested him.

Moments later, police received a report that the cash advance window at the Hilton had been robbed as well, Carey said.

Police questioned Herring, who admitted robbing all four casinos, he said.

The Showboat reported a robber had taken $2,510 from their cash advance window in July, and Caesars reported a $20,000 robbery from their cash advance window in August, Carey said.

Under state law, the Bally's stick up counts as a robbery, even though no money was taken.

Herring was being held in the Atlantic County Jail on $400,000 bail. It could not immediately be determined if he has hired a lawyer.