A man from Albuquerque, New Mexico, named M. Candelaria, was sentenced to prison for committing gambling-motivated robberies. Candelaria, who struggled with a severe gambling addiction, was found guilty of robbing his father-in-law, John Doe. On September 14, 2021, Candelaria, along with an unidentified accomplice, broke into Doe’s home.
The intruder entered undetected, threatened Doe with a gun, and demanded access to a safe. When Doe couldn’t open the safe, he wrote a $23,000 check instead. Candelaria then beat Doe, causing serious injuries and leaving him unconscious. Doe was later discovered by his daughter and taken to the hospital.
Following the home invasion, Candelaria attempted to deposit the check into his bank account. However, the bank staff noticed discrepancies in the handwriting on the check, raising suspicions of fraud. This failed attempt didn’t deter Candelaria, as he committed another crime weeks later.
On October 30, 2021, he robbed a Bank of America branch. Using a typewritten note that threatened cartel violence, Candelaria forced the teller to hand over cash and fled the scene.
An investigation revealed the extent of Candelaria’s gambling addiction. The court learned that between September 2020 and May 2022, Candelaria had visited a local casino approximately 169 times, spending vast amounts of money.
His desperate need for funds to support his addiction led to his criminal actions. On March 27, 2024, a federal jury convicted Candelaria of bank fraud. Shortly after, on April 10, he pleaded guilty to the bank robbery charge.
Candelaria was sentenced to 26 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The case was prosecuted by Assistant US Attorneys Samuel Hurtado and Natasha Moghadam and investigated by the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. This sentencing aims to address both Candelaria’s crimes and his underlying gambling addiction.
In related news, there have been other gambling-related incidents. An anonymous threat caused a significant police response at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, where the caller claimed to have explosives and guns. No threats were found.
Additionally, a shooting near the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma resulted in a man’s death, and a homeless individual was arrested in Fresno for attacking a security guard at Club One Casino. These incidents highlight the broader issue of crime associated with gambling.
