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REMODELING CONTROVERSY: County says charges coming

Harrah's to be cited over work

Misdemeanor criminal charges are imminent for problematic remodeling done at the Rio, Harrah's Las Vegas and Flamingo Las Vegas hotels, according to a statement Thursday from the county manager's office.

"I don't have a date" for the issuing of citations, said county spokeswoman Stacey Welling on Thursday after the statement came out. But she said they are a certainty, and when issued, will become public documents.


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  • County Manager Virginia Valentine was in meetings Thursday and did not respond to an interview request.

    Harrah's executive Marybel Batjer said Thursday evening she was perplexed at the announcement. "My understanding is citations have not been written, so it's extremely difficult to speak to something that doesn't exist."

    According to the statement, Valentine "directed Clark County's Fire Department and Building Division to issue citations to Harrah's Entertainment for unpermitted remodeling work that has occurred at its Las Vegas properties." The document also named a fourth location owned by Harrah's Entertainment that will be addressed in the citations: 3665 W. Twain Ave., which is a building occupied by Roman Empire Development, a Harrah's remodeling subsidiary that the corporation closed on Tuesday.

    "We must hold Harrah's accountable for its failure to comply with building safety codes," Valentine said in the statement. "Our first priority is public safety, and the issues we have found at these properties amount to a serious violation of public trust."

    The statement does not identify which individuals or specific entities will be named in citations, nor for which specific acts. But citations by fire and building departments will address applicable county codes.

    District Attorney David Roger said Thursday afternoon he was unaware that the county was announcing its intent to issue citations. He said any citations would be for misdemeanor charges, punishable by up to six months imprisonment, $1,000 fine, or both.

    "We may very well (meet with) inspectors to review evidence and determine appropriate charges" and which parties to cite, Roger said. "We're not involved in the case right now."

    The county views the preparation of citations as the next step in the county's investigation of the remodeling, which began in September, Welling said.

    "The first step of our investigation needed to focus on exposing the work that was done at these properties and getting it brought up to proper building and fire codes," the statement read.

    Recent inspection records of the properties, created by fire and building officials since late September, have documented multiple but localized deficiencies including substandard wiring, sprinkler heads that were corroded or painted over, and unsealed holes in fire-rated walls or floors that are supposed to defend against the spread of smoke or fumes.

    The county opened its present investigation after the Review-Journal in September presented research to county officials indicating that hotel management had passed off the extensive work at the Rio, which took place from about late 2004 to early 2006, as superficial remodeling that did not require permits.

    Since then, certain remodeling projects at Harrah's Las Vegas and the Flamingo also have been investigated, with more deficiencies discovered.

    Contact reporter Joan Whitely at jwhitely@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0268.

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    Fred Frazzetta wrote on December 17, 2007 06:14 AM: Fred is a thief:

    I apologize to all of you that I have passed judgment on previously...you definitely have a right to your own opinions. I will keep my comments from this point forward just to the facts. In this case the facts do speak for themselves...which is evidenced by the fact that criminal citations have been issued by the Clark County Building Department.


    Fred Frazzetta wrote on December 17, 2007 06:03 AM: Fred is a thief:

    The facts which have been uncovered by the Clark County Building Department, CC Fire Department & Penta Construction clearly show that all of my allegations have been found to be true...every single one of them. This is about a company which performed illegal remodel work which resulted in very real public fire safety hazards in their remodeled rooms.

    TEXT OF THE INTERNAL EMPLOYEE MEMO

    DATE: DECEMBER 12, 2007

    TO: ALL EMPLOYEES

    FROM: GARY LOVEMAN

    SUBJECT: ROMAN EMPIRE DEVELOPMENT

    SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE CREATED THE HARRAH'S CODE OF COMMITMENT AS A WAY OF MEMORIALIZING THE ETHICAL STANDARDS WE HAVE ESTABLISHED FOR OURSELVES IN THE CONDUCT OF OUR BUSINESS.

    UPHOLDING THE CODE OF COMMITMENT IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE COMPANY AS A WHOLE AND TO THE SUCCESS OF EACH EMPLOYEE.

    MANY OF YOU HAVE NO DOUBT HEARD RECENT REPORTS ABOUT IMPROPER RENOVATIONS AT RIO, HARRAH'S LAS VEGAS, AND FLAMINGO. THESE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN THE MOST DISTURBING ISSUES I HAVE FACED IN MY FIVE YEARS AS CEO. I AM TROUBLED THAT IN LAS VEGAS, THEY MAY HAVE JEOPARDIZED OUR MOST PRECIOUS ASSET: THE CONFIDENCE AND TRUST OF OUR GUESTS AND EMPLOYEES.

    WHILE A LIMITED NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS DIRECTED AND CONDONED THE IMPROPER ACTIVITIES, ALL OF US IN SENIOR MANAGEMENT ROLES MUST ESTABLISH THE TONE FOR COMMUNICATING THE CONDUCT WE EXPECT FROM EVERY HARRAH'S EMPLOYEE. IT IS OUR COLLECTIVE JOB TO ENSURE THAT ETHICAL STANDARDS ARE NEVER SACRIFICED IN PURSUIT OF DEADLINES OR PROFITS.

    OTHERS WILL DETERMINE WHETHER GOVERNMENT CODES AND PROCEDURES WERE VIOLATED, AND WE WILL ACCEPT WHATEVER CORRECTIVE ACTION IS METED OUT. BUT WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE DID NOT MEET OUR OWN HIGHER STANDARDS, WHICH COMMIT US TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR GUESTS, EMPLOYEES, AND COMMUNITIES, AND WHICH BUILD AND PROTECT THE REPUTATION OF THIS COMPANY. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THESE MISTAKES ARE


    Fred is a thief wrote on December 15, 2007 01:03 PM: Thief, I don't work for Harrahs and have no connection to this. I just find it amazing that you continue to call everyone out while you hide behind the fact stated in these RJ articles, that you were fired for stealing from your employer. When do we get to hear you answer to this, what a loser. Harrah's will be punished, when will you be???


    Fred Frazzetta wrote on December 15, 2007 11:55 AM: Fred is a thief:

    No, you probably as a good obedient little sheep that you are - just helped them do the illegal work, which left Guests and employees in danger each and every day. Good job - you should be really proud of yourself for truly being a coward...by definition. I would be happy to ask Santa for two special gifts for you - since it seems that you have misplaced them. The facts stand by themselves - charges were filed because the law was broken...now they will be held responsible for their actions as they should be. If you ever get the gumption up please let us know who you are...we are all curious.


    Fred is a thief wrote on December 15, 2007 08:58 AM: Gutless...I don't steal from my employer like a loser. When are you going to be held accountable for your cowardness.


    Anne wrote on December 14, 2007 10:32 PM: Well, it's about time they are held accountable for their actions... I only wish Atlantic City would wake up!


    Fred Frazzetta wrote on December 14, 2007 08:55 PM: BREAKING NEWS

    Harrah's cited by county

    The Clark County building division on Friday issued 17 misdemeanor citations to various individuals associated with problematic remodeling at the Rio and Harrah's Las Vegas hotels. An 18th citation involved work done at a warehouse occupied by a remodeling subsidiary that Harrah's Entertainment closed earlier this week. Harrah's spokesman Marybel Batjer on Friday evening confirmed receipt of the citations, and said corporate executives were reviewing them.
    Updated: 12/14/2007 6:40 PM


    Fred Frazzetta wrote on December 14, 2007 08:49 PM: Fred is a thief:

    Did you see that 17 citations were issued today to Harrah's by the Clark County Building Department, and an 18th to Roman Empire Developments illegally remodeled office located on Valley View - it is listed under breaking stories!

    Your intelligence level (I mean lack of one) is showing - something in your comparison just doesn't add up besides the plain and simple fact that you are afraid to use your real name...gutless. These people put millions of lives in jeopardy over the years all for the sake of greed. Justice will be for them to all be charged with felonies...convicted and spend some time with Bubba in their nicely striped suits! I can only assume that you are one of their good little sheep who probably participated in at least some of their illegal activities.


    Fred is a thief wrote on December 14, 2007 08:29 PM: So "Fred" keeps talking about Harrah's and the local government being held accountable for all of their mistakes. When is he going to be held accountable for stealing light bulbs from the company whom he worked for. Where are his misdemeanor charges for theft??? What a joker, all this what if. Well, what if one of the stolen light bulbs he was responsible for led to poorly lit fire escapes. Enough with the what ifs, Harrah's will serve their punishment and so should the loser and attention seeker "Fred".


    Fred Frazzetta wrote on December 14, 2007 07:20 PM: For all:

    This is the final report of Mr. Maddox the County's Supervising Inspector who investigated my complaint...verbatim!

    Memorandum Department of Development Services, Phil Rosenquist, Director.

    To: Greg Franklin, Manager

    From: Richard Maddox, Supervising Building Inspector (Initials RM appear to right of this line)

    Subject: Rio Hotel and Casino, 3700 W. Flamingo Road, Cabana Tower Phase I, II, and III Complaint of construction
    without permits.

    Date: February 16, 2007

    I have completed the investigation of the complaint by Mr. Fred Ferzzetta that Harrah's Gaming had remolded the 3rd thru 14th floors of the Cabana Tower without permits. the Cabana Tower was built in three phases the first phase beginning in 1989 and third phase completing in 1994.

    The hotel rooms are a standard room from the fourth thru eighteenth floor with the third floor being handicap rooms and nineteenth floor being super suites per the original approved plans for the approved plans of record on the project.

    During the course of inspection 37 rooms where walked from the third to the nineteenth floor. The floor plan, plumbing layouts, mechanical and electrical locations all matched the approved plan on record. The work that had has been done was completed early in 2006 and included new receptacle, switches, switch plates, plant, carpet, flooring, wall paper, new sinks with countertops, and new toilets all of which requires no permits.

    The only work found that requires a permit was the replacement of one light fixture in each unit. They where given a copy of the Clark County Building Administrative code and advised of the requirement for permits. This complaint may be closed.



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