Las Vegas 'rogue cop' on trial for armed casino robbery
The trial of Las Vegas police officer Caleb Rogers, accused of robbing three casinos with a government-issued revolver, begins Monday in federal court.
According to prosecutors, Rogers stole nearly $165,000 in robberies at Red Rock, Aliante and Rio sportsbooks. The seven-year veteran of the Las Vegas Police Department was attacked by security forces and arrested in Rio de Janeiro.
Federal prosecutors are expected to paint Rogers as a desperate gambling addict driven to desperate measures by mounting debt, the Associated Press reported.
Roger's lawyer, Richard Pocker, will argue that the evidence linking the alleged rogue police officers to the Red Rock and Aliante robberies is weak. Polk accused investigators of pressuring witnesses to identify Rogers as a suspect, including Rogers' brother, Josiah Rogers.
Prosecutors said the motive for all three crimes was the same. The perpetrator was wearing a mask, dark clothing, black latex gloves and had cash in a pocket underneath his jacket. According to court documents, the perpetrators had a noticeable limp in all three robberies.
Rogers faces life in prison if convicted of brandishing a firearm during or in connection with a violent crime.
In April 2022, Rogers pleaded not guilty to three counts of robbery interfering with commerce and one count of brandishing a firearm during or in connection with a violent crime.
THREATS OF VIOLENCE
During the Rio robbery, Rogers allegedly threatened to shoot sportsbook office employees if they didn't hand over their money.
He then allegedly pushed a sportsbook employee, who fell to the ground, and threatened again after she fled the building and confronted security guards near the casino parking lot.
Are you ready to get shot for this? I'll shoot you! "Just shoot me now," he said, according to a police report cited by KSNV.
The security guard grabbed the gun from Rogers and threw him to the sidewalk.
Brother should testify
The trial is expected to hear testimony from Rogers' brother, Josiah Rogers, who recognized the defendant from security footage from two previous robberies. Caleb Rogers is accused of using Josiah's car in one of the robberies and later telling him to get rid of it.
In exchange for providing testimony, Josiah Rogers received immunity from prosecution.
Caleb Rogers remains employed by LVMPD but is on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the criminal case.
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Source: www.casino.org
