Missing man found 30 years later working in Las Vegas

Missing man found 30 years later working in Las Vegas
By Katie Crowther

Las Vegas, NV (KTNV)- A Chicago man, presumed dead, turns up very much alive here in the Valley. Investigators say he was living a lie for more than 30 years until detectives finally caught up with him. Now, he's being charged with identity theft and fraud.

Joseph Richard Sandelli, a bookie at Rampart Casino, isn't who everyone thought he was. Detectives say the 72-year-old, is really Arthur Gerald Jones, a commodities broker at the Chicago Board of Trade, who went missing more than three decades ago.

Gambling debts and possible organized crime affiliations led police to believe foul play may have been involved in his disappearance. In an affidavit, Jones' wife of 17 years told investigators that about six months before he disappeared, he lost his job and was in debt.

"The social security administration came to us, asking for some assistance in locating him," says Kevin Malone, with the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). They began investigating the tip about fraudulent use of a social security number, and traced it to Jones.

According to paperwork from the Attorney General's office, Jones admitted to detectives that he purchased a fake drivers license, birth certificate and social security card before he left Chicago in 1979.

He then moved to Florida, California, and finally, Nevada, going by a different name in each place. Using fingerprints, detectives have connected Jones to crimes in each of these states. His first arrest, was in Florida back in 1979, for larceny.

"It was much easier to pull off identity fraud back in the 1980's and earlier," Malone says. "We didn't have all the electronics that we have these days to verify these things. Plus back then, we would accept out of state licenses at face value."

Jones was declared legally dead in 1986, allowing his wife and three children to collect social security benefits. Detectives say it appears they had no idea he's actually been alive this whole time.

Jones, who was released on bail, is scheduled to be arraigned on felony charges August 23rd.

Patrick Hughes, the Vice President & General Manager of Rampart Casino, where Jones has worked for the past ten years in the sports book, issued this statement:

"The Rampart Casino cannot discuss the employment history of specific individuals due to confidentiality, as well as the ongoing investigation. All gaming employees are licensed by the State of Nevada and undergo background checks as required by law before they are hired. All of our gaming employees have undergone this screening process."