ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – A man believed to be in the country illegally faces charges suspected of a sophisticated gift card scheme. 

“They were able to steal that money almost immediately,” St. Charles County Prosecutor Joe McCulloch said. 

The Wentzville Police Department says Bangxuan Li was part of a group that stole more than $175,000 worth of gift cards from area Schnucks locations.

They allegedly would take the account and pin numbers, re-seal the cards, and go hang the cards back up at the store. When someone bought them and loaded money onto them, that money would disappear. 

“The way that they’re able to get that information and reseal the gift cards package that they come in is a very sophisticated operation,” McCulloch said. 

While the first case was reported at Schnucks on Wentzville Parkway, police say Li and his group did this dozens of times at multiple locations. 

Schnucks security told police that Li and two others were involved in 37 total incidents in December, including 12 in St. Charles County. Police say flock cameras put Li’s Mercedes at or near several of the stores before driving off to California. 

“It does appear that it’s a part of a bigger, possibly traveling theft ring,” Wentzville Police Department Public Information Officer, Sgt. Jacob Schmidt, said. 

Schnucks reported that it happened again in January in the Greater St. Louis and East St. Louis areas. This time, it was the same Mercedes with a new registration and two different people with Li.

Alton Police arrested Li and two others on Jan. 23. Police say they seized 800 gift cards from his car.

Schnucks security told investigators that the tampered cards were worth more than $175,000. Schnucks reimbursed customers $13,000.

But police say the case is even larger. 

“There’s other evidence that other retailers are involved as well,” Schmidt said. 

Li is charged with accessory stealing and could face 10 years in prison. However, McCulloch says he has already heard from federal officials regarding Li’s immigration status, and it is unclear how that will affect this case.