Bartlett jackpot winner arrested trying to collect prize at Elgin casino

A Bartlett woman hit the jackpot Sunday night at the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, only to be sent to jail when she tried to collect her winnings.

Christina K. Franquia, 51, of 907 Shorewood Drive was charged in court Monday with two counts of unlawful possession of fraudulent identification cards, according to a report.

Police said when they arrived at the Elgin casino Sunday evening, an 83-year-old Bartlett man was trying to collect the winnings, but from her actions it was apparent that Franquia was the winner.

When police asked her for her identification, Franquia gave them a resident alien card and a Social Security card, police said.

A check by police showed both cards were fake.

Franquia told police that a man named "Amigo" approached her several years ago in a Hanover Park supermarket, took her photo and made the two cards for her for free.

Neither police nor officials at the casino would release the amount Franquia won, but police said that even if the two identification cards were legal, she wouldn't have been able to collect the money from the casino because she placed herself on the casino's "banned" list.

If you place yourself on the banned list and win at the casino, your winnings will go to a charity, according to gaming officials.

Franquia spoke through a Tagalog interpreter in court Monday and was informed that if she pleads guilty or is found guilty of the charges, she could be deported to the Philippines, since she is not a U.S. citizen.

Franquia posted a $1,500 bond Monday and was released from custody with a June 26 court date at the Kane County Judicial Center.