A man from Chicago has been found guilty in connection with the theft of $700,000 from a casino located in Michigan, in an audacious scam that involved deceiving an employee over the phone. The employee was manipulated into taking the cash, placing it into a designer bag, and driving approximately 85 miles to deliver it.

     U.S. Attorney Mark Totten emphasized the importance of vigilance against phone and online scams, stating, “This case highlights the necessity for businesses, organizations, and individuals to remain vigilant and cautious.”

     The incident took place in 2023 at the Four Winds Casino in Hartford, Michigan, which is owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. According to FBI reports, a crucial staff member responsible for managing cash was directed via a phone call and subsequent text messages to rapidly gather $700,000 on behalf of a tribal official.

     The employee, without any interruption, filled a Michael Kors bag with cash, exited the casino, and began her drive. Throughout this time, she maintained her conversation with the caller, who instructed her to proceed to a gas station located in Gary, Indiana, where she ultimately handed over the cash to Jesus Gaytan-Garcia, one of the two men who arrived in a minivan, according to investigators.

     The employee cooperated fully with the investigation, sharing details about the phone call, the messages, and the cash transfer at the gas station, as noted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Lane in a legal document.

     Gaytan-Garcia was not apprehended until March 2024, a full seven months later, when investigators managed to connect him to the vehicle that collected the cash. He was convicted on two federal charges in a Kalamazoo court on Thursday. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, represented by Tiffany Brown, indicated that others involved in the scheme are still being looked into.

     During the investigation, officials recovered $18,000 from a safe in Gaytan-Garcia’s residence in Chicago. Notably, the cash was bundled and labeled with the date corresponding to the casino theft.

     Defense lawyer Parker Douglas contended that multiple families resided in the house, leading to shared access to the funds. “There was movement between the floors and the money was available to others living there. My assertion was that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to conclusively tie this man to the crime. Unfortunately, the jury saw it differently,” he remarked on Friday.

     Searches conducted at Gaytan-Garcia’s properties in Indiana uncovered evidence of monetary transfers, along with a collection of antique coins, Civil War currency, and foreign currency, as noted by Lane.