A 30-year-old felon, who was deported following a burglary conviction in 2011, returned to the country and was arrested Thursday on charges of stealing about $580,000 from a Laguna Beach man, a prosecutor said.
Jose Angel Martinez Casillas, 30, of Tijuana, was arrested crossing the border as he attempted to use an alias, said Senior Deputy District Attorney Marc Labreche.
Casillas, who told authorities he was brought to the country originally by his mother when he was 3, was convicted in 2011 of breaking into the rooms of a Garden Grove hotel and stealing from guests while he worked there in maintenance, Labreche said. He was deported following that conviction.
Casillas was charged Wednesday with a count of first degree residential burglary, 56 counts of forgery, and 41 counts of grand theft, all felonies. He also faces sentencing enhancement allegations of property damage exceeding $200,000, aggravated white collar crime exceeding $500,000 and the burglary conviction in 2011.
The victim hired Casillas as a repairman, so he had access to his employer’s home, Labreche said. From August 2016 through February 2017, Casillas allegedly stole checks worth a total of $430,000 from his boss’ home, forged his signature and cashed them, Labreche said.
After Casillas stopped working for the man, the defendant then turned to using his ex-employer’s bank routing number to take about $150,000 more, Labreche alleged.
Casillas would have family members buy cars for him and used the pilfered cash to repay them, Labreche said. He used some of his allegedly ill-gotten gains to build a home in Tijuana, Labreche said.
Casillas could face up to 153 years and four months in prison if convicted at trial.