Two St. Joseph Residents Charged in $150,000 Casino Theft Involving Alleged Phone Scam

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — What initially appeared to be a legitimate cash pickup at St. Jo Frontier Casino on Sunday, October 25, turned into a theft investigation involving more than $150,000, an alleged telephone impersonation scheme and the arrest of two St. Joseph residents nearly two hours east of the city.

Charles E. Blaisdell, 42, and Heaven L.R. Roberts, 21, have each been charged with one count of receiving stolen property, a Class D felony, according to an October 26 news release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Both are being held on $150,000 bonds.

How the Alleged Scam Unfolded

According to reports describing court documents, the incident began around 7 a.m. Sunday when casino employees received a telephone call from someone claiming to represent FedEx regarding a cash pickup.

A second call reportedly came to a casino security supervisor from a man using an alias. The caller allegedly claimed the casino's general manager had authorized the release of approximately $150,000.

At approximately 8:38 a.m., a black Jeep arrived at the casino, where the supervisor reportedly handed over a box containing the money.

Casino staff subsequently discovered that the transaction had not been authorized, prompting a theft investigation.

Unlike a traditional casino robbery involving force or threats, the reported scheme relied on convincing an employee that the cash transfer had been approved by management.

License Plate Readers Help Investigators Locate Suspects

The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Gaming Division was notified of the theft and immediately began investigating.

Investigators identified a vehicle believed to be involved and entered its information into the FLOCK license plate recognition system.

The vehicle was subsequently located traveling eastbound on U.S. Highway 36.

At approximately 10:54 a.m., Macon County deputies located the vehicle west of Highway 63 and conducted a felony traffic stop with assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

A male driver and female passenger were taken into custody without any reported injuries.

Following the arrests, deputies obtained a search warrant for the vehicle. Authorities recovered more than $151,000 in cash, which was seized and secured pending collection by troopers from St. Joseph.

Two St. Joseph Residents Face Felony Charges

The Missouri State Highway Patrol identified the suspects as:

• Charles E. Blaisdell, 42, of St. Joseph

• Heaven L.R. Roberts, 21, of St. Joseph

Both were initially placed on a 24-hour investigative hold.

On October 25, the Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged each suspect with one count of receiving stolen property, classified as a Class D felony under Missouri law.

Both defendants are being held on $150,000 bonds, according to the Highway Patrol's October 26 announcement.

Investigation Remains Active

The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Gaming Division and Division of Drug and Crime Control are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the theft.

Investigators have not publicly explained how the alleged callers obtained information about casino operations or whether additional individuals may have participated.

Authorities say further information is being withheld to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to contact Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H Headquarters at 816-387-2345.

The charges against Blaisdell and Roberts are allegations. Both individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.