Former Las Vegas police officer convicted of stealing almost $165,000 from casinos
07/14/2023 2:39 pm PDT
LAS VEGAS (TCD) -- A former officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department could spend the rest of his life in prison after he was convicted of robbing casinos three different times, stealing over $150,000.
The Associated Press reports a federal jury convicted 35-year-old Caleb Rogers on Friday, July 14, of three counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The firearm charge comes with a maximum sentence of life.
Rogers’ brother reportedly testified against him during the trial and said he joined Caleb on the first heist, but not on the other two. Prosecutors reportedly argued during the trial that Rogers was deep in debt and addicted to gambling.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, Rogers robbed the first casino in west Las Vegas on Nov. 21, 2021, and stole $73,810, and the second in the northern part of Las Vegas on Jan. 6, 2023. He took $11,500 that time. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said during those two robberies, he "walked directly to the casino’s cashier cage and demanded money from the cashiers."
The third heist occurred Feb. 27, 2022. During that incident, he reportedly "ran toward two casino employees in the sportsbook area and yelled: 'Get away from the money. I’ve got a gun. I will shoot you!'"
He pushed one of the cashiers onto the floor before taking $78,898.
Employees triggered the alarm in the casino, and Rogers fled toward the parking lot. A security guard tackled him, but Rogers pulled out a gun and threatened to shoot him. Other guards arrived and disarmed him.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers arrived at the scene and arrested Rogers. They checked the serial number on his revolver and learned it belonged to the department.
Rogers faces up to 20 years for each count of interference with commerce by robbery.
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