In a decisive ruling, a Las Vegas police officer has been handed a 12-year sentence in federal prison for carrying out three separate casino heists, amounting to the theft of approximately $165,000. Caleb Rogers, a 35-year-old operative of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, also displayed his police-issued firearm during one of the robberies.
The series of thefts occurred between November 2021 and February 2022 with Red Rock Aliante and Rio casinos being the targets. Prosecutors provided evidence of Rogers clad in black latex gloves, dark attire, and a face mask during the robberies.
After a thorough trial process, Rogers was convicted on three robbery-related charges and one count of brandishing a firearm. The US District Court for the District of Nevada subsequently mandated Rogers to pay in excess of $85,000 as restitution.
Despite the court’s stringent judgment, Richard Pocker, the defense attorney representing Rogers, made it known that he intends to appeal the decision.
Providing further details, prosecutors revealed the procedural account of the first robbery on November 12, 2021. Upon arrival at the Red Rock Casino Resort in western Las Vegas in a pick-up truck cloaked with trash bags, Rogers approached the cashier cage and insisted on a payout, strategically keeping one hand in his pocket to suggest the presence of a weapon. Overwhelmed, the cashier surrendered approximately $73,810, a portion of which was in $20 and $100 notes. Rogers’ distinct gait was logged by surveillance cameras.
Fast forward to January 6, 2022, at the Aliante Casino & Hotels in North Las Vegas, Rogers, driving a white Volkswagen hatchback, repeated a similar tactic. Always with his hand in his pocket, he approached the cashier and was handed around $11,500.
However, on February 27, 2022, at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, his spree came to a halt. Demanding that two employees hand him cash from a sports book area, he got aggressive, escalating the situation by manhandling a female employee. The alarm was sounded and Rogers was restrained by security personnel. He brandished his silver firearm but was disarmed before he could act further.
Security held Rogers in check until fellow LVMPD officers arrived to arrest him. The firearm, once in police custody, was traced to be property of the LVMPD itself, solidifying Rogers’ guilt.
