Man accused of robbing Bellagio appears in court

Anthony Michael Carleo, the son of Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge George Assad, was shackled and wearing navy blue prison scrubs, as a throng of media covered his court appearance.

Carleo’s attorney, William Terry, asked for a speedy preliminary hearing, in which prosecutors have to show there is enough evidence to send the case to trial in District Court. Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman set the date of the hearing for Feb. 23.

Assistant District Attorney Chris Owens said he had issued a notice to the defendant that he could potentially bring the case before a grand jury. Owens told Zimmerman that more charges could be added later.

Afterward, Owens and Terry declined to comment.

Carleo, 29, is charged with two counts of armed robbery, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and one count each of burglary and carrying a concealed weapon. He is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center.

At 3:50 a.m. Dec. 14, a man parked a late-model black motorcycle at the Bellagio’s north valet entrance. Leaving it running, he walked into the casino wearing a white, full-face motorcycle helmet and a leather jacket.

Walking past slot machines, the man stopped at the table games closest to the door. He pulled out a pistol and demanded money from the craps dealer. The man then ran out with an estimated $1.5 million in Bellagio chips in denominations from $100 to $25,000.

No one was hurt in the robbery, and no shots were fired, Las Vegas police said. Security officers did not try to stop the man out of concern that a shootout might injure casino patrons.

In and out of the casino in minutes, the robber was last seen riding the motorcycle west on Flamingo Road, police said.

Carleo was arrested last week after, authorities alleged, selling some of the stolen $25,000 chips, also known as cranberries because of their color, to undercover police officers.

He was arrested at the Bellagio, where he had stayed in recent weeks, a comped high roller who lost more than $100,000 gambling away chips the police say were stolen in the robbery.

Authorities said a total of $1.2 million in chips and cash had been recovered or accounted for. Carleo also could face drug trafficking charges, police have said.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@
reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.