The sentencing
The 35-year-old Las Vegas police officer who robbed three casinos has received a 12-year prison sentence. Caleb Rogers – who had his sentencing hearing on Tuesday in a federal courtroom – will also serve a three-year probation period upon his release and pay $85,310 in restitution to the casinos.
his legal team sought leniency due to his history of serving as a law enforcement officer
Prosecutors were seeking a 20-year sentence for Rogers, while his legal team sought leniency due to his history of serving as a law enforcement officer and completing community service. Attorney Richard Pocker highlighted that his client “opted for service in one of the most dangerous professions dedicated to protecting our society” while many other people went for self-serving careers.
Pocker said they plan to appeal the convictions as he believes that the evidence linking Rogers to two of the heists is weak.
Brandishing a firearm
A federal jury delivered a guilty verdict for Rogers in July relating to the theft of $165,000 across three separate casino robberies.
Rogers wielded a loaded police-issued firearm during one of the heists. In this instance, Rogers went around to the worker’s side of the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino’s sportsbook counter and pushed one of the employees onto the ground. He threatened to shoot two workers as he took $79,000 in cash and proceeded to run away.
Security officers at the property managed to apprehend him close to the parking lot, with police recovering the firearm. They ran the serial number on the weapon and saw that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department issued it to Rogers.
Aftermath of the heists
Investigators eventually linked Rogers to robberies at the Red Rock Casino and the Aliante Casino Hotel Spa too. The explanation given for the thefts was financial struggles resulting from a gambling addiction. His brother testified against him during the trial, having served as an accomplice and gained immunity from prosecutors by cooperating.
he has thought about “the effect that this has had on my family and everyone”
The defendant has been on unpaid suspension from the police department since his arrest in February 2022 and an internal investigation will take place to determine his job status. Rogers apologized for his actions and said he has thought about “the effect that this has had on my family and everyone.”
One of the security officers who apprehended Rogers ended up quitting his job and moving into another line of work after being shaken up by the ordeal.