This audiobook is narrated by an AI Voice. Dive into the gripping true story of Eric Morikawa, the mastermind behind one of the most sophisticated casino chip counterfeiting operations in Las Vegas history. This tale of ingenuity, desperation, and ultimate downfall reveals how two construction workers outsmarted a billion-dollar industry—until their luck ran out.
In The Clever Counterfeiter, author Walid Saleh unravels the astonishing true story of Eric Morikawa, an ordinary construction worker who turned into a criminal mastermind. Facing financial ruin during the 2004 Las Vegas construction crash, Morikawa and his partner Jeremy Lewis devised an audacious plan: counterfeit casino chips with such precision that they bypassed the casinos' elite security systems.
From painstakingly replicating chip designs to laundering their ill-gotten gains, Morikawa’s operation was a testament to human ingenuity—and hubris. But as their wealth grew, so did their risks, leading to betrayal, blackmail, and a dramatic showdown with the Gaming Control Board.
This book explores:
• The meticulous craftsmanship behind the counterfeit chips.
• The psychological toll of living a double life.
• The industry-wide revolution in casino security sparked by Morikawa’s crimes.
• The moral dilemmas of targeting an industry many view as predatory.
A blend of true crime, industry exposé, and cautionary tale, The Cleper Counterfeiter is a must-read for fans of heist stories, gambling lore, and the eternal cat-and-mouse game between criminals and security systems.
