August 12, 10

NEWS / Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 30 Years in State Prison without Parole in Shooting Death of Manager a

TRENTON – Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that a Pennsylvania man was sentenced to prison today in the shooting death of shift manager Raymond Kot at the Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City last year.

According to Director Taylor, Mark E. Magee, 58, of Norristown, Pa., was sentenced to 30 years in state prison without possibility of parole by Superior Court Judge James E. Isman in Atlantic County. Magee pleaded guilty on June 7 to first-degree murder for fatally shooting Kot.

In pleading guilty, Magee admitted in court that he shot Kot, 57, of Egg Harbor Township, inside a card and dice room off of the casino floor at the Taj Mahal on May 27, 2009. He told the judge that he believed that the casinos were cheating patrons by electronically controlling table games. Magee said he knew Kot was the shift manager, and he went to the casino with the intent to kill Kot. He admitted stalking Kot throughout the day.

Magee confronted Kot at approximately 3:50 p.m., shooting him three times in the torso with a five-shot .38 Special revolver loaded with hollow point bullets. Kot was taken by ambulance to Atlantic City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Magee was arrested outside of the casino shortly after the shooting by detectives of the Atlantic City Police Department. Magee dropped the murder weapon as they approached.

“Mark Magee will likely spend the remainder of his life in state prison,” said Attorney General Dow. “While we have concluded this prosecution, our thoughts and prayers remain with Mr. Kot’s family and colleagues, who lost a loving husband and father and a great friend.”

“This sentence serves justice and, we hope, will help the healing continue for the many loved ones and co-workers of Mr. Kot who were devastated by his murder,” said Director Taylor.

The murder charge was contained in a Sept. 17, 2009 Atlantic County grand jury indictment. Deputy Attorney General Yvonne Maher prosecuted the case for the Division of Criminal Justice Major Crimes Bureau and represented the state at the sentencing. The New Jersey State Police investigated the murder with assistance from the Atlantic City Police Department. The investigation was conducted for the State Police by members of the State Police Casino Gaming Bureau, the State Police Crime Scene South Unit, and the State Police Major Crime Unit.

http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases10/pr20100811a.html