Disguised as an old man with a prosthetic mask, 55-year old John Coletti managed to steal more than $100,000 from casino patrons in Michigan and Kansas using fake driver’s licenses and personal information he illegally obtained from the internet.
Caught by the Same Old Trick
He was recognised at this casino because of his same old trick, disguising himself as an elderly man where he took out $20,000 from a kiosk. In an attempt to get away he immediately fled to the bathroom when security approached him and exited the building,
“With a noticeable bulge down the front of his pants, believed to be the prosthetic face mask.”
In just a month’s time (between April 26 and May 27 2019), Coletti stole the sum from at least 10 victims by withdrawing funds from their personal bank accounts via kiosks at the casino. This was reported to the Michigan State Police but it took almost a full year before the man was arrested for identity theft at the Prairie Band Potawatomi Casino in Kansas.
The Same Old Trick
He was recognised at this casino because of his same old trick, disguising himself as an elderly man where he took out $20,000 from a kiosk. In an attempt to get away he immediately fled to the bathroom when security approached him and exited the building ‘with a noticeable bulge down the front of his pants, believed to be the prosthetic face mask’.
Coletti was arrested and is currently in custody in Kansas where he has a detention hearing set for July 30. He faces charges of fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. You can find the full criminal complaint here. However, the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Michigan has requested that he is transferred and faces his charges in Michigan.
You Think You Can Get Away with Committing a Crime?
The police searched his car where they found prosthetic facemasks, flash drives, identification cards and kiosk receipts and several books on how to get away with committing a crime. If you thought books on how to get away with committing a crime are only useful for crime writers, think again. Though just like in the ABC show How to Get Away with Murder the truth always catches up with you.
Want to read about criminals who were a bit less crafty (read: stupid) then check this out.
