Tue, 02/22/2011 – 00:52 – PokerPages Staff

37 year-old Kelvin McClendon and 33 year-old Lashone Dobard attempted to steal chips from the Gulfstream Park Casino in Hallandale Beach, while taking part in a tournament at the casino.

The plan initially came to fruition, as McClendon chopped the jackpot in the event for a $1,300 pay day. Dobard also ran deep for a $320 finish.

However, they pair were finally outed after officials at the casino noticed that chips were missing, following the tournament.

The chips then appeared during a second tournament that the duo attended several days later.

Security officials then checked the relevant video footage, and found that Dobard and McClendon had been putting chips into their pockets whilst working as a team.

They were subsequently arrested and pleaded no contest to charges of cheating.  The men were given a lifetime ban from the Gulfsteam Park Casino, on top of their criminal punishment.

Dobard eventually received a 142 day sentence in jail, while McClendon was sentenced to two years probation.

It is not the first instance of cheating uncovered at a poker tournament.  Renowned players, Ali Tekintamgac and Kadir Karabuluta were also disqualified from events on the Partouche Poker Tour and Holland Casino Dom Classic for similar reasons.