Lena Tibbs, 56, was playing slots when a woman asked if the $100 dollar bill she found on the floor behind Tibbs belonged to her. Tibbs reported to 6News’ Derrik Thomas that at the time she was carrying a stack of bills, thus assumed she had accidently dropped the bill hence thanked the woman for returning it to her.
A surveillance video from the casino reveals that the bill was actually dropped be a woman receiving cash from a nearby payout machine.Although Tibbs does not have a criminal record, she is now fighting accusations that she had stolen the $100 dollar bill. Trial has been scheduled for May 19th.
Tibbs quotes: “That’s not me. That’s never been me to take anything from anybody. I’m hurt. My goal is to clear my name. I’m not a thief.”
French Tibbs, Lena Tibbs’ husband stated: “The lady who picked it up never saw the lady who dropped it. My wife never saw the lady who dropped it. It’s not fair to charge my wife with a criminal offense. It’s ridiculous.”
The woman who had given Tibbs the bill was interviewed by Casino investigators however Tibbs was not contacted until August when she was informed of the charges. The only statement given by Indiana Live casino was that the Shelby County Prosecutor’s Office was handling the case.
Lenna Tibbs declined an offer to plead guilty to a lesser charge because she said she is innocent. With the support of her family, she is fighting the criminal conversion charges against her.
