Woman Steals Man's Wallet from Hotel, Gambles $2,000 Away

A woman stole $2,600 and hid a cell phone from a man as he slept in a St. Charles hotel room Nov. 23. She then lost all but nearly $2,000 gambling at Ameristar Casino, police said.

Huyen Thi Nguyen, 40, was charged Monday with felony theft.

The victim told St. Charles Police Nguyen also took his truck, but she had keys to the vehicle and he permitted her to drive it. He told police he had been helping Nguyen out, but did not give her permission to take his money as they stayed at InTown Suites, 1769 Veterans Memorial Parkway in St. Charles.

Nguyen told police she took the money because she had a gambling problem. She also said she hid the man’s cell phone by wrapping it in a coat and hiding it under the bed so he could not contact her.

When police arrested her, $626 was left in the man’s wallet.

Police said Nguyen does not live in Missouri, but has relatives in California and Florida. She also had a drug warrant in Florida, according to court documents.

For more crime information on St. Charles Patch, see the following articles:

• Teen Charged with Stealing Stepfather's Pickup After Throwing Unauthorized Party