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John L. Smith
Longtime prosecutor lands on the opposite side of the table
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Victoria Villegas has spent more than two decades prosecuting criminals as a respected member of the Clark County district attorney's office.
Now she finds herself under scrutiny in an ongoing federal investigation.
Maybe it was inevitable. Villegas has been in the process of divorcing attorney David Amesbury, who in October pleaded guilty to wire and bank fraud conspiracy charges in association with the HOA investigation. Amesbury, 57, agreed to cooperate with the FBI and Las Vegas police early in the investigation.
According to his pleading, Amesbury admitted that from March to September 2008 he helped rig homeowners association elections at the Pebble Creek and Chateau Nouveau condo complexes. He received $3,000 for acting as a straw man "monitor" of the HOA board votes.
He also admitted that, as a partner in the Courthouse Café at the Regional Justice Center, he conspired with his partners to defraud banks in pursuit of refinancing for the project. According to court documents, Amesbury and his partners received $8,000 a month from October 2008 to July 2009 to allow an as-yet-unidentified businessman run the cafe under the table.
Villegas filed for divorce Oct. 21, citing incompatibility and irreconcilable differences. Amesbury is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 23 by U.S. District Judge James Mahan.
In November, Amesbury was found badly beaten in Henderson and suffered injuries that sent him to the hospital, but FBI and Las Vegas police said the assault was unrelated to their investigation.
While Amesbury had a low profile and an undistinguished career as a lawyer, Villegas has been an effective member of the district attorney's criminal division. Her name surfaced in 1997 as a possible candidate to lead the U.S. attorney's office in Las Vegas.
Courthouse sources confirm that questions arose after Villegas was interviewed by the FBI and Las Vegas police regarding her knowledge of the Courthouse Café loan. If her conversation conflicted with known facts, she could face a criminal charge of misleading a federal officer.
Did Villegas become entangled in Amesbury's search for a loan for the Courthouse Café?
More importantly, was Villegas, a veteran prosecutor who should know the legal and ethical rules of engagement when it comes to interviews, candid with federal authorities?
Now I've learned that the district attorney's office recently started termination proceedings against Villegas, technically because of supposed abuse of family medical leave taken after she filed for divorce. Attempts to reach Villegas this week have been unsuccessful.
Attorney Adam Levine represents Villegas in the employment termination matter. He confirmed being retained but declined further comment.
DUNES REUNION: Gone but not forgotten, former employees of the Dunes will celebrate its colorful history at 5 p.m. Jan. 25 at the New York City Bar & Grill at 6168 W. Spring Mountain Road with their 19th annual Dunes Reunion.
On that night, perhaps one of the Dunes loyalists will tell about the time the beloved Dr. Joseph Fink, house physician at Caesars Palace, paid an unorthodox "house call" to casino boss Sid Wyman at the Dunes. Fink, who died in December, sent over an EKG machine and technicians to care for the ailing Wyman.
The late Dr. Fink treated an endless parade of Dunes employees, too.
TACO TEARS: It's enough to crunch your taco and leave you with a terminal case of indigestion.
It is with sincere sadness that I announce the impending closure of the Macayo's Mexican Restaurant at 4457 W. Charleston Blvd. after more than three decades in business.
For more than a generation, that Macayo's location was a favorite dining spot for local high school kids after Friday night football games and for local families any time.
Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? Email comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.
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Victoria Villegas will come out of this as an unknowing victim, after she sings like a TWEETY BIRD
The incredible amount of corruption in City and County government amazes even me. Which is why it's not being pursued criminally - because they're all involved in some way.
As for Macayo's - the worst mexican food I have EVER had in my entire life. Hasta la vista!
The criminal activity of Victoria Villegas will surface in the very near future. Right now she is thankful she is only being investigated for one crime. When the cases she handled expose the corrupted database of the DA's office, she will have alot of answering to do.
Thank you! There is a god of Karma. She is as dirty as the rest of them. This is just the beginning.
When will the scandals in LV come to a court case ???
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not Macayo's!!!
Oh No not more scandal at the Courthouse when will it ever end, At the next election I hope
Looks like retribution to me. Easiest thing to do, lawyer or not, is just not answer any questions and walk away. No comments, no utterance, not even nodding of one's head, just walk away. Hope she make out ok after living with a dirtbag husband for so long. He needs 30 years in the can.
What a horrible mistake of judgment. You do not have to meet with the FBI. Now she faces the real possibility of prosecution, not for committing the underlying crime, but for lying to the FBI. That's why we have 5th Amendment rights. Just say "no, thanks." That was the free civics lesson everybody got courtesy of our government in the Martha Stewart case. The only crime she committed was not being candid in her talks with the FBI - a conversation which should have never happened. How could a lawyer, in fact, a prosecutor, make such a bad decision? WOW!