07:59
07 Apr
A Las Vegas police officer has appeared in court this week charged with robbing three casinos of approximately $164,000 total and threatening to shoot a security guard while attempting to escape from his third heist…
33-year-old Caleb Mitchell Roberts, a serving Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officer, stands accused 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 first robbery was carried out in November 2021, Rogers entering the Red Rock Resort and Casino in the western part of Las Vegas, walking straight to the cashier’s cage and demanding money, leaving with approximately $73,810.
The second robbery was carried out in January 2022, a similar scenario at the Aliante Casino Hotel Spa seeing the alleged cop-turned-robber leaving with $11,500.
The Federal grand Jury indictment gives more details of the third heist, which occurred on February 27, 2022 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, former home of the World Series of Poker.
Rogers is claimed to have 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 then allegedly climbed over the counter and bundled one of the employees to the floor, before grabbing $78,898 and placing it into a bag. Attempting to flee the scene after an alarm was triggered, Rogers was tackled by a casino security guard.
This is the point where he is alleged to have produced a .357 caliber revolver, pointed it at the guard, finger on trigger, and threatened:
“I’m going to shoot you!” However, security officers were able to overpower and disarm Rogers, restraining him until LVMPD officers arrived. After arresting Rogers and seizing his firearm, a check on the revolver’s serial number showed that it belonged to their own Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Las Vegas Police Officer Indicted for Three Casino Robberies @FBILasVegas@LVMPDhttps://t.co/xTMiGaLQrS
— US Attorney Nevada (@USAO_NV) April 4, 2022
Rogers was tied to the two previous robberies by his “unique gait”, caught on camera in all three incidents. “In each of the robberies, the modus operandi was essentially the same,” reported Aol.com.
“Additionally, although Rogers appeared to wear somewhat different items of clothing during each robbery, the style of clothing was consistent across all three robberies. Rogers also wore black latex gloves during each of the three robberies.”
A search at Rogers’ apartment following his arrest in February led to police finding “black latex gloves, paperwork tying him to a car used in one of the robberies, and injury forms about a 2019 knee injury that seemingly explains his walk,” according to Lawreport.com.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Brenda Weksler scheduled a jury trial for May 23, 2022 and Rogers faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of “interference with commerce by robbery”, and life imprisonment for “brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence”.
As per our previous report on Rogers’ arrest, the Las Vegas Police Protective Association (LVPPA) declared that the police union will not represent Rogers because the criminal activity occurred while off duty.
“No police officer that is a member of the LVPPA is entitled to criminal representation when committing acts not in accordance with the course and scope of their duties,” said the association’s President Steve Grammas, adding: “If these charges are proven to be true, we hope the criminal justice system accurately holds this person accountable.”
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