Bellagio Robbery Suspect Anthony Carleo to Stand Trial

The man who stole $1.5 million in chips from Bellagio late last year appeared before a judge on Friday and was informed that he would stand trial on multiple felony counts. Anthony Carleo, dubbed the “Biker Bandit” because he drove a motorcycle up to the famed Las Vegas casino before entering with a handgun and racing off with the chips, is being held in jail on $1 million bail.

Carleo is facing several charges: multiple charges of robbery with a deadly weapon for the different employees he robbed, burglary with a deadly weapon, robbery with the use of a deadly weapon with a victim 60 years of age or older, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon for pointing a gun at both a security officer and a valet.

The robbery occurred in the early morning hours of December 14th. Concealing his face with a motorcycle helmet with a dark visor, Carleo drove up to the Bellagio valet area, parked off to the side, and headed for craps Table 3 in Pit 3. Brandishing a handgun, Carleo pushed the dealer and a 72-year-old employee out of the way, scooped up chips, and put them in a bag.

Most of the chips were cranberry-colored $25,000 denomination chips (known as “cranberries“), although he did take other denominations ranging from $5,000 down to $100. He then dashed out, found his bike, and sped away.

Carleo’s downfall was his stupidity. Not able to help himself, he began gambling at the scene of the crime just days later using the $5,000 chips that he stole. Prior to the robbery, he had struck up a conversation with a poker dealer, talking about how if he wanted to, he could get away with a robbery and that he knew people to whom he could sell the $25,000 and $5,000 chips.

He also said that he wouldn’t be foolish and try to cash in the chips, but rather would just come to the Bellagio once a month and play with a $5,000 chip. Remembering the conversation, the dealer grew suspicious and found out that Carleo indeed changed a $5,000 chip at the poker cashier. The dealer engaged Carleo in conversation, coming right out and accusing him of being the thief, but Carleo denied it.

Further digging his hole, Carleo registered an account on TwoPlusTwo under the not-so-subtle screen name “oceanspray25.” He eventually started privately communicating with forum member “provotrout,” trying to sell him some “cranberries.” provotrout was not interested in getting involved, but suspecting oceanspray25 was the thief, he continued speaking with him over e-mail and telephone in order to try to extract some evidence.

He asked Carleo, in so many words, if he was the Bellagio robber and Carleo surprisingly answered in the affirmative. The clincher was when, in order to prove that he actually had the chips, Carleo e-mailed provotrout pictures of two $25,000 Bellagio chips on a piece of paper on which he had written provotrout’s name, the date, and “Biker Bandit.” The IP address of the e-mails was traced back to Carleo’s home address.

Soon after that, Las Vegas police set up an undercover operation in which they arranged to purchase “cranberries” from Carleo. The plan worked. On January 28th, an officer met with Carleo to purchase six $25,000 chips. Carleo showed him one chip and admitted to stealing them.

No transaction was conducted until January 30th, when they met again at the Bellagio, of all places. There, Carleo sold the officer one “cranberry.” That sale was followed up two days later with the sale of four more. At that time, the officer also told Carleo that he was looking to get a crew together to pull off some heists, one target being the Bellagio. Carleo told the undercover police officer that he had already hit that casino. On February 2nd, Carleo was placed under arrest.