Nadine Marcias and two Others Charged in Plot to Steal $309K from California Dentist and launder at Bingo Hall

Two men and a woman embezzled $309,000 over three years in a scheme involving a church bingo hall, according to charges filed by the Santa Clara County, California District Attorney’s Office.

Deputy District Attorney Julie Sousa said 56-year-old Nadine Marcias illegally signed checks sent to her employer, a dentist, and cashed those checks at the church bingo hall where she played Flash, an electronic bingo game. Two people at the bingo hall took perhaps 10 percent of the check and gave the balance to Marcias, Sousa said.

The hall required Marcias to spend half of the balance on bingo and she kept the rest for herself. The two suspects from the bingo hall allegedly involved in the scheme were 77-year-old Tusameme “Sal” Sinapati Salanoa and 63-year-old Atonio “Tony” Leulu. “It was their own side deal,” Sousa said. The dentist noticed a series of Denti-Cal checks missing, which led to the discovery of the scheme.

Nadine Marcias charged

Prosecutors have charged Marcias with felony employee embezzlement and check forgery. She surrendered Thursday. Prosecutors have charged Salanoa and Leulu with forgery. Prosecutors said the three could spend as much as five years in prison.

The arraignment for Salanoa and Leulu is set for June 11 at the Hall of Justice and the arraignment for Marcias is set for July 6. Sousa said the dentist is entitled to restitution under the state’s bill of rights for victims, and the church might reimburse him. “We must order restitution,” Sousa said. “But the flip side of that is that you cannot get blood from a stone.”

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