Dark and Devious Scheme”: Three Indicted in Fatal Casino Kidnapping Case

Three people from South Carolina have been indicted in relation to what federal prosecutors describe as a deadly interstate kidnapping and robbery scheme that started at a casino in North Carolina and ended with a homicide across state lines.

A federal grand jury in Greenville returned the ten-count indictment against 33-year-old E.M.R., 42-year-old J.T.L., and 19-year-old K.L.C. 

The charges include robbery affecting interstate commerce, kidnapping resulting in death, use of a firearm during a violent crime, and obstruction of justice.

False Pretense

According to prosecutors, in June 2025, Mequez Bernard Geer (34) of Anderson, South Carolina, was lured to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in North Carolina to allegedly meet R. for a date. 

Authorities say the victim traveled from South Carolina expecting a date, but instead fell victim to a well-coordinated scheme to rob him of cash, jewelry, a cellphone, and a rented vehicle.

Investigators allege that the suspects had firearms, gloves, and masks on them. Once the victim arrived at the casino in the morning hours, R. allegedly persuaded him to leave the property. 

The group then stopped at a nearby convenience store before driving to another location, where additional suspects joined the vehicle.

Federal documents state that the victim was later taken approximately 12 miles into Sylva, North Carolina, where he was robbed and shot. He did not survive the attack.

Hiding Evidence

Authorities later discovered the victim’s body in South Carolina, along with a burning rental car in a wooded area in Spartanburg County, suggesting attempts to destroy evidence and delay identification.

Law enforcement agencies at both the federal and local levels are continuing to investigate the case as it moves through the court system.

US Attorney Bryan Stirling: “The alleged actions of these defendants show a dark and devious scheme that crossed state lines and ultimately resulted in death. Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones as we take this step toward justice.”If convicted, the defendants face significant prison sentences given the severity of the charges, which include kidnapping resulting in death, one of the most serious federal offenses.