/ Matthew Pitt / 24 February 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Anthony Michael Carleo
Anthony Michael Carleo faces up to 35 years imprisonment if he is found guilty of the armed robbery charges he faces in relation to the $1,500,000 theft from the Bellagio casino back in the early hours of December 14. The possibility of such a long custodial sentence will have shocked Carleo as he told his arresting officer that he believed the most he could be charged with would be possession of stolen property
Carleo was arrested last month, ironically in a Bellagio hotel room he was being comped for as a high roller, after he sold a number of $25,000 chips to an undercover police officer, Michael Gennaro, at a discounted price. Gennaro revealed that he had met with Carleo on five separate occasions and bought a total of 14 $25,000 chips for prices ranging between $7,000 and $10,000. Gennaro also revealed that he pretended to Carleo that he was bringing his New York based gang to Las Vegas and asked the defendant if he wanted to join them to rob the Bellagio, to which Carleo laughed as he replied, "I already did!"
Twenty-nine year old Carleo heard these allegations at a preliminary hearing on Wednesday which was held to see if Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman had enough evidence to take the case to a criminal trial. A number of testimonies from casino employees were heard including that of Floor Supervisor Don Crosby who recounted the series of events that results in a the suspect allegedly making off with $1,500,000 in casino chips. Crosby's presence in the robbery could add extra jail time to any sentence given to Carleo as Las vegas law allows for enhancements to be placed on charges if a victim is over the age of 60. Crosby recently celebrated his 72nd birthday.
Zimmerman not only decided there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial but actually added new charges for Carleo to face. At a yet undetermined date, Carleo faces three counts of armed robbery (including the aforementioned enhancement), two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of burglary and one of carry a concealed weapon. As mentioned, the maximum jail term for the armed robbery charge alone is 35 years.
The court heard how at the time of his arrest Carleo was in the middle of a self-confessed drug and gambling binge that was rapidly spiralling out of control. He revelaed that he was a regular user of cocaine and the opium like prescription drug OxyContin. Carleo confessed to Gennaro during one of their five meetings that he had lost more than $300,000 at the Bellagio, including $70,000 on New Year's Eve alone, something his defence attorney William Terry wants to be taken into account if and when he client is charged.
He pushed Zimmerman to put up a reasonable bail amount but upon hearing all the testimonies and taking into consideration Carleo's drug problems and the fact officers found a handgun and plans of money locations at the Caesar's Palace casino in Carleo's room when he was arrested, she set the bail at $1,000,000. In addition to the huge bail sum, she added that should Carleo manage to post bail that he would be immediately placed under house arrest.
The case continues
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