Police Officer Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison For Casino RobberiesLaw Enforcement Officer Caught Stealing $160,000 From Three Las Vegas Casinos |
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From crazy swindles to motorcycle bandits to kidnappings, the Las Vegas casino industry has seen plenty of interesting crime capers through the years. Another of those crimes came to a conclusion on Tuesday when a former Las Vegas police officer was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after heists at three Sin City casinos.
Caleb Rogers, 35, was found guilty in July of three counts of robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The sentencing concludes a case that saw Rogers involved with crimes at the Red Rock, Aliante, and Rio casinos in Las Vegas.
‘Carefully Planned’ Crimes
The firearm charges required a mandatory sentence of at least seven years. Prosecutors pushed for even more jail time than the dozen years that Rogers received, hoping the judge would give the defendant 18 years.
“The range of his actions here were not simply random — they were carefully planned,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cowhig said during the sentencing hearing.
Prosecutors argued that a violation of public trust should be considered as Rogers used his police department-issued gun in at least one robbery.
Rogers blamed a gambling addiction and a mountain of debt for needing the quick cash. In the original trial, the armed robber’s brother Josiah Rogers testified against him after admitting to participating in one of the robberies himself. He described using code words in text messages involving the crimes.
“I don’t have the ability to express to the court the stress I was facing,” Rogers said.
Storming Casinos, Demanding Cash
Rogers would have made off with about $160,000 before getting caught, initially evading arrest at the Red Rock and Aliante, before being taken down during his getaway attempt at the Rio. Rogers entered the sportsbook wearing a wig while concealing a gun, and shoved a 63-year-old security guard during the crime. He threatened to use the firearm while gathering stacks of cash in a bag.
As he attempted to exit the property, Rogers was tackled by security guards and then arrested – letting police know that he was an officer as well while in the back of a patrol car.
During the trial several casino employees described their fear at being threatened with a gun, some saying they were still haunted by the experience.
Rio sportsbook supervisor Sherry McGrath testified: “All I kept thinking in my head was, I could die today.”
*Photo credit – Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
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