Couple Arrested For Muckleshoot Casino Robbery in Washington

Prosecutors in King County, Washington, have officially charged a man and a woman, a couple, for a robbery they allegedly conducted on August 30, 2024, at Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn. 

This comes after a teenager was sentenced up to 27 years in prison for a murder at a Las Vegas casino. 

Details About Those Arrested

The people charged are Tahiri C. Ponce, 31, of Winlock, and Arturo Alejandro Perez-Nava, 32, of Elma. The charges were brought on September 10 with a felony charge of robbery in the first degree. 

Authorities arrested the two on September 6 at Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma. 

Auburn police responded to the scene on August 30 at around 3:16 am. 

Additional Case Details

The incident, which took place at Muckleshoot Casino, located at 2402 Auburn Way South, included a victim who won $1,000 at the casino. Ponce and Perez-Nava allegedly saw the man put the money into his wallet, and Ponce approached him in a parking garage before both Perez-Nava and Ponce robbed him. 

According to court documents, casino surveillance showed Ponce approaching him. 

“It was evident that [he] lowered his guard by the welcoming flirtation … of the female suspect,” the affidavit stated. “It was evident that Arturo was constantly following both [Ponce] and their intended victim,” the Auburn Reporter reported. 

After Ponce approached him, she waved Perez-Nava over, who was driving a Dodge Charger. From here, the victim grabbed a hammer to protect himself after he was threatened with a tire iron. Perez-Nava dropped the tire iron and pulled out a knife, and the victim obliged, giving up his wallet. 

Ponce and Perez-Nava were identified through their IDs which casino employees scanned. 

Past Charges

Both Ponce and Perez-Nava have criminal pasts. Ponce was recently convicted of burglary and theft and is also facing an assault case. Perez-Nava also has pending charges for burglary and theft. 

These convictions, both past and potential, could result in additional prison time for both Ponce and Perez-Nava.