A man allegedly robbed Tracy, California's Stars Casino on Friday morning, leading to a swift arrest aided by police drone technology.

Joseph Just, 34, from Antioch, California, was arrested and charged with robbery after allegedly using a replica gun to demand cash from a casino employee around 5:45 a.m. Following the robbery, he fled the scene but was quickly tracked by police using thermal imaging drones, which located him hiding in a drainage ditch. Officers recovered both the replica firearm and stolen cash upon his arrest.

In a separate incident, former Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe cage manager Alberto Jesus Caballero admitted to stealing $9,967 from the property in May 2021. Under a plea agreement, he must pay $300 monthly in restitution and forfeit $1,500 in bail. If he completes the repayment, his felony charge could be reduced to a misdemeanor. However, failure to pay could result in 16 to 60 months of prison time.

Caballero's arrest came after a routine traffic stop in Texas revealed the outstanding casino theft charge. He posted a $5,000 bond and returned to Nevada to face the charges. The property is now operating as the Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino.

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