As buildings full of money, casinos are common targets for these trying to rating some simple cash by way of scams and capers. The previous couple of weeks have seen some attention-grabbing incidents that featured alleged thieves making off with some really huge bucks. Here’s a have a look at a number of the extra distinctive circumstances.
Fake Phone Call Nets $700K
In Grand Rapids, Michigan, federal officers are prosecuting Jesus Gaytan-Garcia for theft of greater than $700,000 from the Four Winds Casino, which is owned and operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.
Prosecutors allege that Gaytan-Garcia known as the on line casino final July claiming to be the tribal chairperson and wanted the money shortly. A supervisor apparently believed the story and delivered $700,000 to a fuel station in Gary, Indiana, and handed it over to 2 males.
“The amount of money involved in this theft is extraordinary,” U.S. Attorney Mark Totten stated. “Unfortunately, instances of telephone scams at casinos are on the rise across the country, impacting both tribal and commercial gaming operations. Thanks to the dedicated, joint investigation of Pokagon Tribal police and the FBI, we were able to identify and arrest one of the perpetrators of this scheme.”
Baccarat Scam Scores $300K
Another six-figure rip-off was additionally just lately uncovered on the Wind Creek Casino in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Police allege a participant named Qingyong Zhang “thumbed” the corners of playing cards at a baccarat desk and recorded the playing cards together with his cellphone.
Zhang then allegedly utilized a crew of 5 different contributors to make right bets on the sport utilizing the marked playing cards. The suspect and an confederate obtained away, apparently with the money, whereas 4 others had been arrested.
One suspect advised police the group used the same system at different casinos and Zhang paid members $5,000 every. They now face felony corrupt organizations fees.
Man Pleads Guilty To $500K Theft
A person concerned in certainly one of Colorado’s largest on line casino thefts in a long time pleaded responsible final week. The $500,000 theft occurred on March 12 of final 12 months at Monarch Casino in Black Hawk.
Police say Juan Ivan Gutierrez Zambrano, 32, was paid to secure boxes of stolen cash from a former worker of the on line casino – Sabrina Eddy, 45. Zambrano pleaded responsible to felony legal mischief and could also be deported to Mexico.
Eddy is anticipated to face a jury trial in August. Chief Deputy District Attorney Brenna Zortman stated “Zambrano accepted the stolen cash from Eddy after Eddy loaded bricks of $50,000 in cash into boxes in the middle of the night while working as a cage cashier at the casino,” in response to the Denver Post.
Prosecutors allege Eddy claimed she’d been scammed by way of a cellphone name, as seen on the Four Winds, to ship the funds to somebody with the corporate. Authorities now consider that was unfaithful.
