In Las Vegas, heists and con jobs of all kinds are front and center, as a trial involving a former police officer accused of multiple armed casino robberies begins while another investigation into a string of phone-based cage scams at several properties in and around southern Nevada continues to unfold.
In the first case, 35-year-old Caleb Rogers, who served seven years as an officer for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (Metro), is accused of committing three robberies over a four-month span from late 2021 to early 2022.
Rogers was still employed under Metro while the heists occurred, and court filings allege that he also used his police-issued firearm to carry out the crimes; a department spokesperson told the Associated Press that Rogers is on unpaid leave “without police powers” pending the outcome of the case.
Increasing gambling debts are believed to be the main motive behind the heists, as Rogers was reportedly known by those around him to be a frequent gambler.
Prosecutors are alleging that the former officer made off with approximately $85,000 from the first two heists, which took place at Red Rock Casino in November 2021 and the Aliante Casino two months later.
The attempted third heist took place at the Rio in February of last year—Rogers leapt over the sportsbook counter in the early morning as employees were preparing to open it and demanded that they hand over cash while wielding a Metro-registered pistol.
He managed to sock away some $79,000 before being tackled in the parking lot by security staff, who disarmed and held him until police arrived. Since his arrest, he has been held without bail on four charges, according to the AP.
In his defense, Rogers and his attorney Richard Pocker are denying any involvement with the prior two robberies, alleging in their turn that Metro and the FBI are falsely accusing the former officer in efforts to wrap up those cases. Additionally, Pocker is further alleging that the agencies pressured two individuals, one being Rogers’ brother Josiah, into testifying against him to help assist the prosecution.
And testify he did—after taking the stand July 13 with immunity, Josiah Rogers painted a damning picture of the scheme, saying that he was the getaway driver for one of the heists, according to the AP.
“Caleb told me that it was gonna be his operation and when it was happening I had to do everything he said because he had the knowledge and the skill,” Rogers said at one point.
The other main detail that prosecutors argued before resting their case July 13 was Rogers’ unique gait—when analyzing security footage of the incidents, a common theme was a limp in the left leg of the suspect, which was confirmed by Josiah Rogers and others.
Pocker and Caleb Rogers are expected to present their arguments in the coming days, with the 14-person jury expected to begin deliberations early next week.
In related news, another casino heist scandal has also gripped the Las Vegas Valley, after 23-year-old Erik Gutierrez-Martinez was arrested June 18 in connection with three casino cage scams, the most recent occurring at the Circa Hotel & Casino just days prior.
In that case, Gutierrez-Martin allegedly called the casino cage impersonating the owner of the property and demanded that large sums of cash be withdrawn for an emergency payment to the city’s fire department for safety equipment.
The employee then transported several cash deposits totaling $1.17 million to offsite locations and delivered them to Gutierrez-Martinez. Throughout the ordeal, the suspect communicated with the employee via calls and texts that were traced to Mexican phone numbers, a key identifier that immediately linked the case to two others that took place earlier this year at the Golden Nugget in Laughlin and the Eureka Casino Resort in Mesquite.
When questioned, the employee indicated that they believed the suspect’s purported credentials. Gutierrez-Martinez was eventually arrested while at a gym on June 18.
After police identified the vehicle used in the Circa heist, it was found to be registered under the suspect’s aunt, whom he reportedly lived with at the time. When the home was searched June 21, approximately $850,000 was discovered, leaving more than $300,000 still unaccounted for.
Authorities have already charged the 23-year-old for the Eureka heist from early March, alleging in that case that the suspect made off with more than $200,000 after convincing employees there using the same tactics and phone numbers—the money in that robbery was said to be for hand sanitizer.
No formal charges have yet been levied for the Laughlin incident, but investigators from the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) have said that the details from that case to the other two are extremely similar.
Gutierrez-Martinez faces two charges of theft of more than $100,000 and his bail was set at $45,000.
Unlike Rogers’ more traditional strong-arm tactics, Gutierrez-Martinez’s schemes are extremely unique, relying on social manipulation and fear rather than direct confrontation.
Authorities also said that his ability to contact employees’ personal cell phones while perpetrating the heists is extremely effective, given the string of prior stings. In response to the events, the NGCB issued an official notice to operators statewide July 7 warning them of the scams to help protect against further losses.
“The cage scam is sophisticated and has been surprisingly effective in defrauding casinos,” the NGCB report said, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Subjects gain information about high-level casino owners, employees, and managers involved in money operations. They then contact cage employees using various scenarios to manipulate them based on a fear of consequences for casino employees and/or operations.”
“When employee hesitates or resists prompt action, subjects state there is extreme urgency for the offsite payment. Additionally, inferences are made that an employee bonus will be paid for the inconvenience of the unorthodox assignment.”
The agency is asking for anyone who might have additional information regarding the cases to contact its Enforcement Division at 702-383-7500.
