During a recent voyage aboard MSC Magnifica, 4 passengers were apprehended for attempting to use fraudulent credit cards in the ship’s casino.
The individuals - Michael F. Emmanuel, 35; Tyrisha Delgado, 38; Devin Jones, 28; and Quentin Marcellus Tuck, 32 - were charged with grand theft and fraud after trying to withdraw large cash advances to gamble in the casino.
The incident occurred during a 4-day cruise that began on August 19th from Miami (Florida USA). Ship security alerted U.S. Customs and Border Protection, who then notified Bahamian authorities, preventing the suspects from disembarking in Nassau. Upon the ship's return to Miami on August 22nd, the individuals were arrested and taken into custody. Further investigation revealed they had also used fake credit cards to purchase their cruise tickets.
MSC Magnifica’s Atlantic City Casino, spanning 6,780 square feet (630 m2) and accommodating 222 guests, offers a variety of gaming options including slot machines, roulette, and blackjack tables. The fraudulent activities took place during a roundtrip Bahamas cruise that included stops at Ocean Cay and Nassau.
This incident is not an isolated one in the cruise industry. In 2021, three men were arrested on the Wonder of the Seas for attempting to defraud the ship's casino. The individuals were caught manipulating cards to create winning poker hands, while a third member distracted the dealer.
The group was found in possession of EUR 37,000 in cash, but casino staff quickly detected the scam, leading to their arrest by Spanish authorities.
For more MSC Magnifica incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.