SunRay Park and Casino of Farmington, New Mexico has been issued a $7,500 fine by the State Gaming Control Board for an incident going all the way back until December of 2003.  Concerning the position of businessman Bernard Strunk, who served as an executive director of SunRay Park and Casino for over five years, the Gaming Control Board deemed that Strunk should have his certification of casino management removed.

According the Gaming Control Board Chairwoman, Carla Lopez, all casino gaming employees and managers must be officially certified by the State of New Mexico if they are to hold their positions within legal standing.  Strunk's certification, which was a Certificate of Finding of Suitability (meaning he was in good standing as a businessman - trustworthy and capable of running SunRay Park and Casino) was removed when officials found that Strunk had failed to notify the proper State officials that he was facing undisclosed criminal charges.  Strunk had ten days to do so from the time of the charges, which he never showed any intention of doing.

Stunk's attorney says the decision does not affect Strunk in any way, since he left SunRay Park and Casino (and the casino gambling industry) shortly after the time of the incident.  The fact that his license has been revoked poses no affect on the standing of Mr. Strunk as an executive casino manager.  However, what does pose an affect on Mr. Strunk is the undisclosed fine the New Mexico Gaming Commission personally slapped Strunk with.  Although he is supposedly out of the casino business, he will still be held responsible for paying the fine.

As for the late finding of Strunk's violation, the Gaming Board said that Strunk has only recently decided to formally cut his ties with the SunRay Park and Casino, at which time his records were examined once again by the gaming officials. The casino itself was fined for not doing its part in overseeing the bounds of Mr. Strunk himself.