A single phone call plunged a Nevada casino into a chilling echo of the past. On January 5th, at approximately 9:50 PM, emergency services received a stark warning: Harrah’s Casino in Stateline was about to be destroyed.
The voice on the line, fueled by a staggering $20,000 loss, delivered a direct and terrifying threat. “I just lost over $20,000 at your stupid casino, and I am going to destroy it now,” the caller reportedly stated. “I am going to bomb it. This is a bomb threat.”
Authorities swiftly traced the call to Seth Maybee, a resident of South Lake Tahoe. An investigation led deputies to his home, culminating in an arrest by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department just before 2:00 AM on January 6th.
Maybee now faces serious charges – making a bomb threat and terroristic threats – potentially carrying a sentence of two to fifteen years in prison, alongside substantial fines and restitution for the emergency response triggered by his actions.
The incident immediately triggered memories of a dark chapter in the region’s history: the 1980 bombing of Harvey’s Resort Hotel, also in Stateline. That attack, a meticulously planned extortion attempt, involved a sophisticated improvised explosive device that caused an estimated $18 million in damage.
The Harvey’s bombing, thankfully, resulted in no casualties, but the event left an indelible mark on the community and law enforcement. The perpetrator, John Birges Sr., a Hungarian immigrant and compulsive gambler, was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life without parole.
Sheriff Dan Coverley of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the gravity with which such threats are taken, acknowledging the historical context and praising the swift response of both Harrah’s Casino and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. The quick reporting and collaborative effort prevented a potentially devastating outcome.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. A similar, gambling-fueled bomb threat surfaced in Singapore just last year, highlighting a disturbing pattern of desperation and reckless behavior linked to significant financial losses.
The arrest of Seth Maybee serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences associated with making false threats, and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement to protect communities from acts of terror, born from anger or desperation.
