Mask-Wearing Casino Thief Heading To Prison For Stealing $125K, Report Says

A 56-year-old piece who dressed inward various prosthetic masks for treat as he allegedly stole money at gaming properties is to pass iv years in prison.

John Colletti of Harper Woods, Mich. was sentenced this hebdomad inward Motown federal court. He faced upwards to 20 years inward prison after he pled guilty in Apr to personal identity theft and wire dupery charges. As section of his plea deal, he also has agreed to repay $125,740.

In a far-reaching scheme, he allegedly stole the money at hard currency kiosks situated in gaming properties, the Associated Press reported.

Stole Personal Info

He was capable to bag the money after stealing personal info from Global Payments Gaming Systems customers. That way, he could approach accounts at the kiosks.

The masks were made out of latex and silicone. He also was weaponed with legion(p) faux IDs which were used to hide out his identity.

The thefts took come in 'tween April 26, 2019, and Mar 12, 2020 at casinos inward Michigan and Kansas.

Colletti first-class honours degree appeared on law enforcement’s radiolocation in 2019, when the MGM Grand inwards Motown reported that 10 of its customers had been victims of identity operator theft.

By reviewing surveillance video, investigators spotted a surmise who was making suspicious withdrawals at casinos around Detroit.

Appeared As Old Man

He appeared to follow wearing the prosthetic mask of an elderly man, with a change of hats, glasses, or surgical masks.

In ane instance, on May 23, 2019, after withdrawing $30,000 at the MGM Grand, Colletti hailed a cabriolet to Greektown, where he turned upward on the protection cameras remote the Pegasus Taverna Restaurant on Marilyn Monroe Street.

There, he headed to the restroom, where he ditched the disguise. When he reappeared, investigators saw the suspect’s existent human face for the for the first time time.

On another occasion, Colletti turned upwards at the Prairie Band Casino inward the Prairie Band of Potawatomi Reservation inwards Kansas. After withdrawing $20,000, he was told to depart to the cage to gift his Social Security number for reporting purposes, since it was a big transaction.

Instead, Colletti went to the restroom to withdraw his disguise. He emerged shortly afterward. Security guards found clothes, a walker, $11,000 inwards cash, and two postiche driver’s licenses in the restroom.

Colletti was arrested shortly afterward. On other instances, Colletti sported a straw hat and used a baby-walker to add together to his disguise.

Also, a rental auto used past Colletti led investigators to happen 83 driver’s licenses, 14 insurance cards, a counterfeit $100 bill, a flash bulb take with forged documents, and instructions on how to institutionalise crimes.

“John Colletti stole the identities of dozens of inexperienced person people, dragging them all into his criminal scheme,” Timothy Waters, Special Agent inwards Charge of the FBI’s Motown Field Office, said in a statement.

“The impacts of identity element theft are serious and far-reaching for victims, and the FBI testament put to work tough to ensure anyone who engages inwards this typecast of carry on is held accountable.”

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