What looked like harmless sidewalk fun in Brickell and downtown Miami was, according to police, an organized street hustle that drained victims of thousands in cash and at least one Rolex.
Miami officers arrested 20-year-old Jordan Alexander Bustillo on Wednesday after investigators say he helped run confidence games built around bottle-cap betting and three-card monte, luring passersby into high-stakes losses with fast hands and staged winners.
Bustillo was taken into custody on charges that include organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, grand theft with a firearm, obtaining property by gaming, and cannabis possession, according to NBC6 South Florida. Police say he was carrying a bag with more than $17,000 in cash when officers picked him up. A later search of his home turned up four high-end watches and jewelry, a stolen gun, and roughly $16,800 more in cash, investigators reported. He was booked into jail and was expected to appear in bond court on Thursday, according to the station.
Detectives say at least two victims were caught in the schemes this spring. On April 30, one man allegedly handed over $4,000 in cash to a player during a bottle-cap gambling game. On May 14, near the Crosby Hotel, another victim reportedly lost about $4,000 and a Rolex valued at approximately $7,000 after taking part in a three-card monte game.
The arrest reports state that “the victim is manipulated through sleight-of-hand techniques, coordinated distraction, and the assistance of possible accomplices posing as successful players or bystanders.” According to police, a companion of one victim wagered a small amount and briefly won, which investigators describe as a common tactic used to build confidence before larger bets are pushed.
Victims later identified Bustillo in a photo lineup, detectives said, which led to his arrest.
How the Con Works
Three-card monte and similar sidewalk games are classics in the con-artist playbook. Operators rely on rapid hand movements, shills pretending to be lucky winners, and distraction from the surrounding crowd to make a “sure thing” unwinnable.
A recent study in Scientific Reports describes how performers can steer people’s attention with speech and body movement, a psychological sleight-of-hand that police say is mirrored on busy tourist strips when scammers run street games.
Police Response and Reporting
According to investigators, the Bustillo case picked up steam after victims recorded their encounters. Detectives say they recognized the suspect from those videos, which helped them track him down.
Law enforcement urges anyone who believes they were targeted in a similar scam to document what happened, save any video or receipts, and file a report. The FBI and the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) also encourage victims of fraud to report their cases and keep records of any payments for investigators to review.
Legal Note
Bustillo faces multiple felony counts as listed in the arrest reports, but he is presumed innocent until charged and convicted in court. Miami police have asked anyone with information about these incidents to contact detectives so they can follow up on tips and try to recover stolen property.
