(Rock Rapids)– A Worthington, Minnesota man has been arrested on a warrant for felony forgery charges after incidents in 2021, 2022, and 2023 at Grand Falls Casino near Larchwood. A criminal complaint filed by the Iowa DCI accuses 57-year-old Roberto Hernandez of Worthington of forging the name on an ID in his possession to claim gambling winnings.
The complaint states that back in August of 2023, Hernandez attempted to claim a slot jackpot he won in the amount of over $2,000. He presented what a DCI agent says was a fraudulent identification to the slot attendant. Their software said it was fraudulent, so they confirmed with the onsite DCI office. They ran it, and it came up fraudulent for them too. Hernandez stated he had claimed jackpots at the casino before.
Upon further investigation, the agent says it was determined that since 2021, Roberto Hernandez had claimed six slot jackpots totaling nearly $7300. The agent says he used the same ID with the name of a person from Arizona each time, and falsified the other person’s signature.
Hernandez was charged with six counts of forgery and one count of second-degree fraudulent practice, all class D felonies. If convicted, Hernandez could face up to five years in prison on each charge for a total possible sentence of 35 years in prison if ordered to serve the sentences consecutively. He is scheduled for arraignment on Monday, July 28th.
At last report, Hernandez remained in the Lyon County Jail in Rock Rapids in lieu of a $30,000 bond.
(Courtesy Community First Broadcasting station KIWA in Sheldon)
