Chicago Man Convicted for $700,000 Theft in Michigan Casino Heist

Four Winds Casino in Hartford, Michigan. The theft involved deceiving a casino employee over the phone into removing large sums of cash, placing them in a designer bag, and delivering the money to an accomplice miles away.

“This case underscores the need for businesses, organizations and citizens to be diligent and cautious about phone and internet scams,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten in response to the conviction.

Execution of the Scheme

The elaborate crime occurred in 2023 at the casino, which is operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. According to the FBI, a trusted casino employee responsible for managing cash was ed by phone and received text messages from someone claiming to be a tribal official. The instructions compelled the employee to gather $700,000 in cash immediately.

Acting without resistance or question, the employee placed the money in a Michael Kors bag and exited the casino without interference. She stayed on the line with the caller throughout her journey, ultimately traveling 85 miles to a gas station in Gary, Indiana. There, the employee handed over the money to Jesus Gaytan-Garcia, one of two individuals waiting in a minivan, investigators detailed.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Lane noted in court filings that “she was cooperative with investigators and told them about the call, the text messages and the money transfer at the gas station.”

Arrest and Investigation

Gaytan-Garcia’s arrest did not occur until March 2024, roughly seven months after the heist. Authorities were able to trace him to the vehicle used to collect the stolen money, leading to his apprehension.

During the investigation, law enforcement recovered $18,000 in cash from a safe inside Gaytan-Garcia’s Chicago residence. The recovered money was distinctively wrapped and marked with the same date as the casino theft.

Further searches of his properties in Indiana unveiled evidence that included records of money transfers, antique coins, foreign currency, and Civil War-era notes.

Trial and Conviction

Gaytan-Garcia was convicted of two charges on Thursday in federal court in Kalamazoo, Michigan. While other individuals potentially linked to the theft remain under investigation, no further arrests have been reported.

Defense attorney Parker Douglas maintained that the evidence failed to prove Gaytan-Garcia’s direct involvement, suggesting the cash found at his home could have been accessed by others in the household. “He lived in that house with his family and other families, and there’s movement between the floors,” Douglas explained. “The money was accessible to other people there. My argument was there just wasn’t any hard evidence that said this man did this at this time. The jury disagreed.”

The case highlights vulnerabilities in businesses relying on human trust and quick decision-making, as well as the persistent threat of sophisticated scams. While the investigation continues, the conviction of Gaytan-Garcia serves as a warning of the legal consequences for such crimes.

Source:

“Michigan: Jury convicts man in bold scheme to steal $700,000 from casino”, cdcgaming.com, January 17, 2025.