A Miami man has been arrested for operating a street confidence game scheme that stole thousands of dollars and a Rolex watch from multiple victims, police said.
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Jordan Alexander Bustillo, 20, was arrested Wednesday on charges including organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, grand theft with a firearm, obtaining property by gaming, and cannabis possession, arrest reports said.
According to the reports, Bustillo is the “primary operator” of the game known as Three-card Monte, one of the world’s oldest confidence games in which the victim tries to find a certain card or a ball under a cup.
“The victim is manipulated through sleight-of-hand techniques, coordinated distraction, and the assistance of possible accomplices posing as successful players or bystanders,” the arrest reports said. “These bystanders typically encourage participation by creating a false impression that the game is legitimate and winnable when in turn the victims are induced into wagering money [they] ultimately lose due to the deceptive practices utilized by the operators of the game.”
In one case, police had responded on April 30 after a victim said he participated in a bottle cap gambling game with a man known as “Bank Roller,” the reports said.
The victim said he gave the man $4,000 in cash to participate but later learned from a friend that the suspect was known in the Brickell area for scamming people through the game, the reports said.
When the victim requested that his money be returned, the suspect refused and fled with the money, the reports said.
The victim recorded the incident and a detective recognized the suspect as Bustillo, the reports said.
A second incident happened on May 14 in which a victim said he was near the Crosby Hotel when he was encouraged to join a 3-card Monte game involving finding a ball under a cup.
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The man’s girlfriend wagered $100 and won, but another man placed a $4,000 bet and lost, the reports said.
The victim placed a $2,000 bet and lost, but the suspect offered another round and told the victim to bet with his Rolex, the reports said.
The victim handed over his Rolex and lost, and the suspect fled as the victim called police, later telling officers he lost about $4,000 in cash and the Rolex, worth $7,000, the reports said.
According to the reports, the victim later identified Bustillo as the suspect in a photo lineup.
Bustillo was taken into custody and was carrying a bag containing over $17,000 in cash, the reports said.
When Bustillo’s home was searched, investigators found four high-end watches and jewelry, along with a stolen gun and over $16,800 in cash, the reports said.
Bustillo was booked into jail and was expected to appear in bond court on Thursday.
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