News writer
A late-night heist at a gas station in New Mexico and a years-long bank fraud scheme have brought two Chimayo women into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The women stole lottery tickets and cigarettes and forged checks across multiple counties.
Their crime spree targets financial institutions and they left a web of deception in their wake. Now, the women face serious federal charges and the possibility of decades behind bars.
The robbery incident
Around 4:00 a.m. MT on May 22, 2022, Billie Jo Gussler and Angelica Dominguez entered the Valero gas station located on Tesuque Pueblo, according to the United States Attorney’s Office - District of New Mexico.
The women stole property valued at over $1,000 during their time in the gas station, which included lottery tickets and cigarettes. Officials said neither Gussler nor Dominguez is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe.
A deeper investigation
Investigators dug deeper into the suspects and determined between January 6, 2020, and August 19, 2022, Gussler and Dominguez took part in an extensive bank fraud scheme. This scheme took place in Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Rio Arriba counties.
According to authorities, the duo targeted multiple federally insured financial institutions during the crime spree. These institutions included Bank of America, Century Bank, Del Norte Credit Union, Enterprise Bank and Trust, SoFi Bank, U.S. Bank, and Washington Federal Bank.
Officials said the woman altered and forged checks to withdraw money illegally from account holders and financial institutions.
Guilty pleas
On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez announced that Gussler and Dominguez have pleaded guilty in federal court to the theft and bank fraud scheme.
The pair will remain in custody pending sentencing, which no date has been scheduled yet. When the women are sentenced, they face up to 30 years in prison. Once they are released from prison, Gussler and Dominguez will be subject to five years of supervised release.
Holiday second chances
The story of these two women stealing lottery tickets for a Tesuque Pueblo gas station reminds us why it’s always better to play fair — and wait for your second chance. This holiday season, the New Mexico Lottery is inviting players to turn non-winning holiday scratchers into opportunities for big wins, proving that second chances can truly pay off.
The promotion began on October 1, 2024, and allows players to enter eligible non-winning New Mexico Lottery holiday scratchers for a chance to win $1,000. The eligible tickets are as follows:
- Eligible non-winning tickets from Gift Tag Cash!, with each non-winning ticket earning one entry.
- Eligible non-winning tickets from Oh Ca$hmas Tree, with each non-winning ticket earning two entries.
- Eligible non-winning tickets from 12 Days of Christmas, with each non-winning ticket earning three entries.
- Eligible non-winning tickets from The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!, with each non-winning ticket earning five entries.
As part of the promotion, the New Mexico Lottery will conduct three different drawings where 10 names will be drawn, with each person winning $1,000. The first drawing took place on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. The second drawing is set for today, December 18, 2024, and the final drawing will take place on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. The deadline to submit your entries for that final drawing is Friday, January 24, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. MT.
Enjoy playing the New Mexico Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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