Daniel Roybal quickly made a name for himself in 2006 when he was indicted on 699 felony counts of Embezzlement, Fraud and Conspiracy for his part in taking over $1.2 million from Sandia Casino.
In just 15 months, he and another employee managed to forge jackpot payouts in amounts ranging from a few hundred dollars to thousands, eventually taking up to $20,000 in a single day before raising the suspicions of pueblo police.
If convicted on all 699 counts, Roybal would have faced over 2,000 years of incarceration. In July, he chose to enter into a plea agreement instead, pleading guilty to 17 of the counts for which he faced up to 50 years of incarceration according to the terms of the plea.
This morning, Roybal appeared before District Court Judge Ross Sanchez and learned his fate: 50 years in a New Mexico prison.
Through his attorney, Roybal noted that he has none of the money left as he split the proceeds with a now deceased co-defendant and on elaborate hunting and fishing trips. During the investigation, Sandia Pueblo Police discovered approximately $60,000 in cash hidden in his home and in a tool shed in the back yard. That money was forfeited and will be returned to the pueblo.
The State Parole Board will oversee any restitution payments which may be made to the pueblo during and after Roybal's incarceration.
Robin Hammer, Deputy District Attorney, noted that this case is, by far, the largest white-collar crime case ever seen in Bernalillo County. By abusing his position as a supervisor in the casino, and with the help of a subordinate, he was able to take over $1 million in cash, and squander it away.
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