Las Vegas, NV — A suspended Las Vegas police officer and his wife are facing serious charges after investigators accused the couple of carrying out an alleged credit-card fraud spree across Nevada and California, making expensive purchases and later claiming their cards had been stolen.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer Antonio Chavez, 28, and his wife, Claudia Guzman-Marquez, 30, are accused of making costly purchases and then filing disputes with credit-card companies between May 25 and Aug. 3, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The couple faces charges including theft of more than $25,000 but less than $100,000, burglary of a business, conspiracy to commit burglary and theft, and perjury.
Detective Theodore Snodgrass alleged in a warrant application that the couple intentionally purchased expensive merchandise and gift cards while planning to later dispute the transactions.
Investigators detail expensive purchases
According to the arrest report cited by the Review-Journal, Chavez allegedly filed a false police report with the Henderson Police Department to support his claim that his card had been stolen.
On May 25, the couple allegedly purchased more than $13,000 worth of gift cards from Town Square Concierge on South Las Vegas Boulevard.
Investigators said the charges were later disputed with Capital One and American Express. Chavez also allegedly disputed an Apple Store purchase worth more than $1,200, claiming his wallet had been stolen.
Investigators reportedly noted that he did not dispute transactions made in the days immediately before the alleged fraud. Instead, he allegedly waited before reporting his American Express card stolen to both the credit-card company and police.
Guzman-Marquez allegedly made several purchases that same day using Citibank and JPMorgan Chase cards, including two Louis Vuitton transactions totaling more than $11,000.
Those purchases were also allegedly disputed.
Alleged scheme extended into California
The investigation eventually pointed beyond Nevada.
Police said Guzman-Marquez disputed American Express charges made in California during June, as well as transactions involving online merchants.
One of the purchases highlighted by investigators was a $5,000 gift-card transaction at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, California.
According to the report, those gift cards were later used to make purchases at an automotive shop and an Aritzia store at the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets Mall.
The alleged California connection became an important part of the investigation as detectives examined how the disputed purchases and gift cards were used.
Prosecutors say Chavez admitted involvement
According to prosecutors, Chavez admitted to investigators that he had conspired with his wife and “a third party in California” as part of what authorities described as a commercial fraud scheme targeting stores and credit-card companies.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Eckley Keach argued that Chavez knew his alleged conduct was unlawful.
“He knew better,” Keach said, according to the report. “He knows what the law is and he knows that he violated the law willfully because he wanted to enrich himself and his family.”
Keach also said Guzman-Marquez, who is pregnant, made similar admissions and was equally responsible.
Judge releases couple under monitoring
Prosecutors sought $100,000 cash bail and house arrest for Chavez, along with a hearing to examine the source of the money if bail was posted.
But Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Rebecca Saxe rejected the request Thursday, citing Chavez’s lack of criminal history, community ties and the nonviolent nature of the charges.
Chavez was instead ordered released without bail and placed under electronic monitoring. Guzman-Marquez was also released with monitoring.
Defense attorney Robert Draskovich argued that Chavez had no criminal history, cooperated with investigators and had strong local ties.
“He’s presumed innocent,” Draskovich said.
After the hearing, Draskovich told the Review-Journal that the defense and prosecutors were working toward an “equitable resolution.”
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said Chavez has worked for the agency since 2020 and is currently suspended without pay. The allegations remain part of an ongoing criminal case, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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