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Judge gives Bellagio Bandit longer sentence for Suncoast robbery
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Anthony Carleo, also known as the Bellagio Bandit, was given a six- to 16-year prison sentence for robbing the Suncoast last year. Jeff Scheid/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL » Buy this photo
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Aug. 26, 2011 | 7:24 a.m.
The Bellagio Bandit might only have to do three years in prison for his audacious heist at the Strip casino, but a different judge Thursday slapped Anthony Carleo with a six- to 16-year sentence for sticking up the Suncoast.
District Judge Michael Villani ordered Carleo's prison term in the Suncoast case to run consecutively to his sentence in the Bellagio case, which means the 30-year-old faces a total of nine to 27 years in the Nevada Department of Corrections for the two December capers.
Before being sentenced, Carleo again apologized for the robberies and to his family, including his parents who attended the hearing. He said he was ashamed of himself, but "I am not a lost cause. I can turn my life around."
Defense attorney Bill Terry then asked the judge to run the Suncoast sentence concurrently with the Bellagio sentence, arguing that Carleo was a good kid before drug and gambling addictions sent his life out of control.
Villani said that judging by the letters of support from Carleo's parents, politicians and even a Colorado sheriff, the defendant, a couple of years ago, might have been on track to success while being "the pride of his parents."
But Villani said there was planning and sophistication to the Suncoast robbery that occurred about a week before the Bellagio robbery. In both cases Carleo robbed the casinos while armed and disguised in motorcycle gear before making a quick getaway on a bike.
"It wasn't an impulse crime," the judge said.
Villani said he was "dumbfounded" by the light sentence the Department of Parole and Probation had recommended before he sentenced Carleo to prison for armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. The recommended sentence would have given Carleo the opportunity for parole after three years in prison.
"It's unfortunate you took this route," Villani told Carleo.
Prosecutor Chris Owens never asked for a specific prison term but did request that Villani run the Suncoast sentence consecutively to Carleo's Bellagio prison term. The maximum sentence under state law was in the range of 12 to 30 years.
Owens later said having the sentences run consecutively meant Carleo would have to go through four different parole hearings, which could force a lengthier prison stay.
After the hearing, defense attorney Bill Terry said he was "greatly disappointed" by Villani's ruling.
Terry said he thought Villani's decision was influenced in part by what the judge deemed was "a relatively lenient sentence" in the Bellagio case. On Tuesday, Judge Michelle Leavitt sentenced Carleo to three to 11 years in prison for robbing the Bellagio of $1.5 million gambling chips.
Terry added that Carleo is glad the matter is behind him and is ready to serve his time.
Meanwhile, the matter of restitution in the Bellagio case must still be settled. Owens and Terry could not agree on an amount for Carleo to pay back.
Owens is asking for $793,000 in restitution to the Bellagio, based on police recovering about $775,000 of the missing $1.568 million in chips.
Terry argued the amount is meaningless because the missing chips no longer have value. The Bellagio changed chips after the robbery.
But Owens said that during the weeks following the heist, evidence showed Carleo had used the stolen chips to gamble and live at the Bellagio as a high-roller.
Leavitt will decide restitution at a later date.
Villani on Thursday ordered Carleo to pay $18,945 in restitution to the Suncoast, the amount he robbed from the casino.
Carleo was arrested Feb. 2 and charged in the Bellagio heist after he sold 14 stolen $25,000 chips to an undercover Las Vegas police officer.
The officer, Michael Gennaro, testified at a Feb. 23 hearing that Carleo was on a self-described drug and gambling binge that was spiraling out of control.
Gennaro testified that during five meetings with Carleo, the officer bought the chips at a cut rate of $7,000 to $10,000 each.
Carleo told Gennaro during the meetings that he had gambled away $300,000 at the Bellagio, including $70,000 on New Year's Eve alone.
Gennaro said Carleo complained about his father, former Las Vegas municipal Judge George Assad, who was upset with the son's lifestyle of drug use and gambling and had cut his allowance from $1,000 a month to $600. Carleo was using cocaine and OxyContin, according to the officer's testimony.
The Bellagio robbery made international headlines and featured security footage of an armed man briskly walking through the casino in a motorcycle helmet.
In both the Bellagio and Suncoast robberies, Carleo used a motorcycle for a quick getaway and wore a helmet to conceal his face. No one was hurt in either heist.
After Thursday's hearing, Assad, who in June lost his bid for re-election to the bench, ignored requests for comment about his son's case.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@review journal.com or 702-380-1039.
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There is something wrong when a parent feels obligated to give their 30 year old child an allowance of $1,000 bucks a month.
It's sad that people are attacking the father of the guy who committed the crimes. This guy is being locked up for a long time. I can't imagine how one week would feel let alone nine years. It is obvious his dad had now power to help his son out. If he did then he would have been sentenced to less time or probation. There is no reason to insult the family and the other judge. The guys dad has suffered enough and will suffer the entire time his son is locked up. I hope none of you ever have to feel how either one of them do now. I can't imagine having someone I love in prison and feel bad for the innocent family members who suffer for their actions.
i love judge villani, my only wish now is for him to lock up deputy district attorney michael staudaher, he has been getting away with doing others wrong for years, he cheats, lies, create to get a conviction, with evidence right in front of him to clear that person. don't trust this man ever, all that matters to him is getting that conviction, at any cause
People should take as much or more time voting for judges as they do politicans.They have WAY MORE personal power and affect on day to day issues,and many of them are DIRTY.As in in CORRUPT,do favors for the rich and connected,but especially for a fellow judges.This case STINKS to high heaven.
Ah Vegas,just a hop, skip and a jump from one of the most corrupt cities in the country.
Who the f*&c? gives a 29 year old man a $1000 a month allowance? ans: George ASSad. I have seen this assadhole in action in his former downtown courtroom. He is a CROOK and a LIAR. Policemen lied under oath...and were called on it! Then he just simply swept it away with his judicial BS. This whole deal has put a smile on my face:)
George, when you send the $600 a month to your spoiled kid in prison, make sure you use the Western Union blue form instead of the green form.
How about metro identifying the owner of the guns that were used in these robberies? Did they give ex-judge Assad's guns back to him?
Concurrent sentencing should be abolished altogether.
Just wondering...will his dad further reduce his $600 a month allowance or will it stay the same? He won't be able to earn it by taking out the trash for a while, though.
.......if i were the judge as soon as i exited the courtroom i'd posture with my hands cupped inward and my arms held out a little and then i'd say emphatically----yeeeeaaaaaaahhh boooooiiiiiiiii, how do you like me NOW?.....then a fist pump.