California Casino Guard Tries to Fly to Philippines After Allegedly Stealing $31K from Card Room

Posted on: July 13, 2024, 03:00h. 

Last updated on: July 13, 2024, 03:01h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

A one-time security guard at Artichoke Joe’s Casino in San Bruno, Calif. recently attempted to flee from the United States to the Philippines. He had been arrested for swiping $31K from the card room, authorities said.

Artichoke Joe's
Artichoke Joe’s Casino, pictured above. A security guard stole $31K from the California card room and then tried to flee to the Philippines, police said. (Image: Flickr)

John Villareal, 29, stole the cash on July 5. He was booked and then a judge released him on his own recognizance, according to the San Francisco Standard news outlet.

That means the unnamed judge refused to set bail in the case. Villareal was released from custody on Monday.

Just as he was trying to get onto the plane earlier this week, officers from the San Bruno Police Department apprehended him at the San Francisco International Airport. A search revealed he was carrying about $10K in cash at the airport.

Prosecutor Furious at Judge

Later this week, San Mateo District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said he was angry at the judge for not setting bail in the case.

“Here’s a guy who said, ‘I just stole $31,000, I’ve still got $10,000 of it, and I’m going to the Philippines never to return,’” Wagstaffe said in an interview with the Standard.

He’s charged with three felonies, and we [release] him? That wouldn’t have happened a few years ago and that’s the new modern world, and that’s what happened. So, he’s out of custody on his own recognizance. No bail required.”

Nationally, law enforcement and prosecutors have complained judges too often release criminal defendants without setting bail.

Villareal’s incident began when he got a key to a lockbox from another card room employee. Inside was $31K.

He then took the box to a restroom and put the money into a duffle bag, police said.

He tossed the lockbox in a garbage can. He then gave the key back to the employee.

When employees discovered the cash was never taken to the cashier, they viewed card room surveillance cameras.

They saw Villareal allegedly steal the cash. A short time later, he was arrested by local police.

Villareal was then booked on employee embezzlement, grand theft, and second-degree burglary charges.

The 51-table card room is located just west of San Francisco International Airport

Some Cash Used to Pay Bills

As police investigated, officers said they found out that Villareal spent about $4K of the cash to pay his bills.

Another $16K was given to Villareal’s cousin. That person used $3K to pay bills. The remaining $13K is unaccounted for. The cousin wasn’t arrested.

In 2021, Artichoke Joe’s Casino paid a record $5.3M for a violation of the Bank Secrecy Act.