Chicago man convicted in $700,000 West Michigan casino heist

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A federal jury has convicted a Chicago, Illinois, man of impersonating a tribal leader and stealing thousands of dollars from a West Michigan casino.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice in the Western District of Michigan, Jesus Gaytan-Garcia, 45, was convicted Friday of interstate transportation of stolen money and theft from a Native American tribal organization.

He will be sentenced at a later date, officials said.

“This case highlights the need for businesses, organizations and citizens to be diligent and cautious when engaging in telephone and Internet fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Totten. “Thanks to the persistent and dedicated investigators of the Pokagon Tribal Police Department and the FBI, Mr. Gaytan-Garcia has been identified as one of the perpetrators of this theft fraud and will be held accountable for this brazen crime.”

According to evidence presented at his trial, Gaytan-Garcia called the Hartford Four Winds Casino on July 30, 2023, claiming he was chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and needed money for an urgent payment.

A casino supervisory employee who “apparently was misled by the caller’s fraudulent claims” took $700,000 in cash and left the casino, officials said.

From there, the cash was taken across state lines to a gas station in Gary, Indiana, and handed over to two unknown individuals.

According to officials, evidence at trial proved that Gaytan-Garcia was one of the two people involved.

Investigators later searched the 45-year-old’s Chicago home and found the wad of cash still wrapped in a paper band stamped with “Hartford,” the casino’s location and the date of the theft, officials said.

Gaytan-Garcia was arrested four days after the theft and was ultimately charged on March 6.

“The cooperative efforts of the FBI and our tribal law enforcement agencies have resulted in justice for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians,” said Pokagon Band Chief Mario RedLegs. “I am very proud of the professional teamwork carried out by those involved in the investigation. The diligence of the investigative team and the U.S. Attorney’s Office was critical in holding Mr. Gaytan-Garcia accountable for the crimes he committed against the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.”

The Pokagon Band Tribal Police, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Lane and Alexia Jansen were honored for their assistance in the case.