Sandy Seda, the former security chief at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, has been given a second chance in the gaming industry after the Nevada Gaming Commission surprisingly overturned a previous decision to suspend his gaming registration.
Narrow 3-2 Vote for His Comeback
The reversal, decided in a narrow 3-2 vote, allows Seda to reapply for work in the sector.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board had originally suspended Seda’s registration due to allegations of spousal abuse, claims Seda vehemently denied.
During a 35-minute hearing before the Commission, he contested the accusations. While he later pled guilty to disturbing the peace in November, that conviction does not constitute a felony, gross misdemeanor, or crime of moral turpitude.
Losing his gaming registration forced him out of the industry, but the recent ruling gives him a pathway back.
The Suspension Stemmed from Allegations
Seda, a former Marine who served in Iraq and ex-police chief at UNLV and the College of Southern Nevada, received strong backing from his criminal defense attorney, Michael Becker.
“This was certainly the low point for Mr. Seda,” Becker stated. “His marriage fell apart and he was in a toxic relationship that resulted in charges being filed and later dismissed. The only thing on his record is disturbing the peace.”, he added.
Becker emphasized that Seda’s suspension stemmed from allegations rather than a final legal decision, an approach that differs from how other licensed professionals, like doctors or lawyers, are treated.
Seda: “I’m a Good Man and a Good Father.”
Despite the strong emotions surrounding the case, the Commission’s three-member majority, represented by Rosa Solis-Rainey, Brian Krolicki, and George Markantonis, felt the evidence was inconclusive and voted to overturn the suspension.
The two dissenting votes came from retired judges Jennifer Togliatti and Abbi Silver, who argued the allegations should not be ignored.
Seda has remained steadfast in his innocence. “I’ve never touched her. I know better than that,” he asserted. “I’m a good man and a good father.”, he added.
Solis-Rainey, while acknowledging the seriousness of domestic violence, highlighted the difficulty of overcoming unproven accusations.
Krolicki also spoke about Seda’s “22 years in the Marine Corps and 20 years between UNLV and the College of Southern Nevada”, adding that while something “unfortunate” happened at the ex-security chief’s house, the incident was also the “only issue” in his “that hasn’t been exemplary.”
“It was one bad hour during one afternoon.”, Krolicki added.
Togliatti, on the other hand, disagreed with Krolicki’s take, saying it wasn’t just a bad hour since Seda chose to deny the incident.
She emphasized the complexity of domestic violence, where victims may recant or avoid legal action due to personal consequences.
“I appreciate your service, but I can’t ignore some of the more salient details in these records,” Togliatti said, noting the bruises on Seda’s ex-wife.
“This isn’t criminal court, and it doesn’t need to be reasonable doubt,” she added. Seda’s ex-wife works as a civilian employee for the Metropolitan Police Department and is currently sharing custody of their two teenage children. At the end of January, the Nevada Gaming Commission rejected a settlement with Nicole Bowyer and announced it would seek a harsher penalty for the ex-Resorts World Las Vegas agent who allegedly used her position to facilitate her husband’s illegal gambling operations and money laundering.
