Charges: San Francisco man swindles Minnesota Vikings out of luxury suites for 49ers, Bills games

A 39-year-old San Francisco man who is wanted in several states for financial fraud is now charged with allegedly swindling the Minnesota Vikings out of about $70,000 worth of luxury suite tickets and scheming to move into a luxury apartment in downtown Minneapolis.

According to the charges, Daniel Garcia Escamilla signed a contract with the Vikings to rent a suite for the Vikings-49ers game back in September 2018. Escamilla paid for the suite using a personal check in the amount of $37,000.

Days after the game, the Vikings informed Escamilla that the check had been returned because the account was closed. According to the complaint, Escamilla apologized and promised he would send payment right away. He also said he was interested in attending other scheduled games.

On Sept. 17, 2018, Escamilla wrote two checks to the Vikings, one for $35,000 and another for $190,000, to serve as payment for the future rentals.

According to the complaint, the Vikings did not attempt to cash either check after learning from the bank that both had been issued from a closed bank account.

Two days later, Vikings staff learned through an internet search that Escamilla had been accused of committing a similar offense in another state.

On Sept. 23, 2018, the Vikings lost the $35,000. A few weeks later, the Vikings sent demand for payment notices to Escamilla's last known address, but they were returned as unable to forward.

Minneapolis police investigated and found that both accounts used to pay the Vikings were opened using false social security numbers and were closed in the summer of 2018 due to Escamilla "repeatedly using debts without legitimate funds."

Authorities also discovered that on Aug. 10, 2018, Escamilla signed a $40,000 lease for an apartment at the Nic on 5th, a luxury apartment complex downtown. Though he did not provide a security deposit or pay any rent on the lease, he reportedly hosted a gathering at the apartment before the 49ers game. He was evicted from the apartment in late September 2018.

According to the complaint, Escamilla has an extensive history of arrests and convictions for crimes in other states relating to financial fraud and has active extradition warrants in multiple states. 

The Hennepin County Attorney's Office reports that Escamilla's whereabouts are unknown and the complaint was issued as a warrant so he can be arrested.