Casino Worker & Husband Accused of Embezzling

Posted on: June 4, 2025, 03:18h. 

Last updated on: June 4, 2025, 03:26h.

Corey Levitan Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Vegas Myths Busted.
  • A husband and wife team were arrested in San Jose for embezzling from a casino
  • The casino was identified by chips seized from the couple as the Casino M8trix card room
  • Ellen and Mark Mangundayao face charges of felony embezzlement and conspiracy 

Police in the Bay Area have arrested a casino worker and her husband on suspicion of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars over several years.

Ellen Mangundayao, 38, and her husband, Mark Mangundayao, 41, pose for their mug shots. (Image: San Jose Police Department)
This photo of gaming chips seized by police was identified as belonging to Casino M8trix card room by local media outlets. (Image: San Jose Police Department)

San Jose police said that the casino — identified by photographs of chips seized from the couple as the Casino M8trix card room — notified them on May 23 that their employee, Ellen Mangundayao, had been stealing chips since at least the beginning of May.

Finally Busted

Detectives confirmed the casino’s suspicions, identifying a years-long scheme in which the 38-year-old gave the chips to her husband, 41-year-old Mark Mangundayao, who cashed them out at the casino.

After obtaining arrest and search warrants, police arrested and booked the couple into the Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of felony embezzlement and conspiracy.

Police said they seized $75K in cash and $10K in chips from their two homes, and found $4,750 in chips on Ellen’s person.