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US man takes short break from blackjack to rob bank

Written by Ben Blaschke

A 52-year-old man has been indicted in West Virginia after taking a break from his blackjack session at a local casino to rob a bank before returning and resuming his game.

Kerry Johnson, from Charleston, was playing at the Mardi Gras Casino in Nitro in August this year when he stood up and placed a US$25 chip on the table to hold his spot. He then drove 13km to a bank in his home town, of all places, where he handed the teller a note saying he had a bomb and a gun before driving back to the casino.

Johnson has denied the charge despite police finding a large sum of cash hidden between the cushions of his couch. More of the stolen bills were found at the blackjack table in question.

He faces 10 to 20 years in prison.