LAS VEGAS (Washington Insider Magazine) – Officials stated Thursday that an off-duty Las Vegas Law Enforcement officer has been booked with federal charges for robbing a casino using his department-issued weapon and being a suspect in 2 other robberies.
Caleb Rogers, 33, has now been booked for robbery and brandishing a weapon during a violent crime in conjunction with a heist last month, according to officials with the Department of Justice, Las Vegas office.
According to federal authorities, he was apprehended on Feb. 27 after allegedly stealing the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino up at gunpoint and trying to leave with $78,898 shortly before 7 a.m.
Rogers took the loot and fled to the parking garage when an alarm went off, according to prosecutors. However, he was tackled by at least 1 hotel security guard.
Rogers is accused of pulling out a firearm, putting his finger on the trigger, and threatening to shoot. According to the judicial document, the security was able to subdue the offender, and Rogers’ colleagues Metro cops arrived shortly after to make a critical finding, according to prosecutors.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, police recovered a black string bag containing the money and a Ruger gun with a sequence number concealed by a yellow tag from Rogers.
According to federal prosecutors, that number indicated the firearm belonged to the Las Vegas Metropolitan police and was issued to Rogers throughout the robberies.
The policeman had no credentials, but was sporting a bulletproof vest, according to prosecutors. Rogers introduced himself after being held in a certain method that cops communicate with one another, according to the criminal complaint.
Since the accused in other previous casino armed robbery wore black disposable gloves, just like did the Rio accused, and since the person they pursued kicked his left foot out in each step, a specific gait shown in security clips, investigators started to suspect a bigger spree, according to the US Attorney’s office.
The very first robbery happened at 3:38 a.m. on November 12 at the off-strip Red Rock Resort and Casino, when a guy demanded $73,810 from a cashier while placing a hand in his pockets, where police suspect he had a pistol, according to prosecutors.
According to the legal brief, the second occurred at 4:26 a.m. on January 6 at the Aliante Casino in North Las Vegas. According to the lawsuit, a suspect stole $11,500 after pulling a white Volkswagen car into a place designated for handicapped parking.
On Thursday, he arrived in federal court but did not plead guilty.
According to U.S. Attorney’s spokesperson Trisha Young, U.S. Magistrate Judge Youchah kept Rogers jailed till at least a pretrial hearing on March 24.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, Rogers faces life imprisonment if convicted of displaying a weapon during a violent crime.
Rogers was put on leave without salary and without police privileges following his arrest in February, according to his department, pending the result of federal as well as internal investigations.
Rogers was scheduled in Las Vegas Court on Mar 16 for a pretrial hearing on state charges stemming from the Rio arrest , including robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to NBC affiliate KSNV of Las Vegas.
