Bail won’t be lowered for man accused in Bellagio, Suncoast robberies
The Bellagio biker bandit suspect has been up to more than just daring casino armed robberies, according to Clark County prosecutors.
During Thursday’s bail hearing before District Judge Michelle Leavitt, they leveled accusations against Anthony Carleo that included witness intimidation and rampant drug abuse.
Prosecutor Chris Owens told Leavitt that on top of the charges Anthony Carleo faces in the robberies of the Bellagio and the Suncoast, new drug and weapons charges are on the way against the 29-year-old.
Owens said there have been allegations that Carleo and an unknown person from Pueblo, Colo., have intimidated witnesses in the Bellagio case.
He asked Leavitt to deny defense attorney Bill Terry’s motion for a lower bail amount because Carleo is an "extreme flight risk," as he is facing more than a 100 years in prison if convicted.
The judge refused to lower the $1 million bail that was set by a Las Vegas justice of the peace.
Terry had asked for bail of $100,000 followed by house arrest and the opportunity to enter Carleo in a drug counseling program. Terry said he had waited to make the bail request so Carleo could sober up in jail.
Owens said if Carleo is let out of jail, he would likely revert back to abusing drugs.
"The only reason he’s been good is because he didn’t have a choice," he said.
When Carleo was out of jail "he was a train wreck," the prosecutor said.
Terry called Carleo’s arrest last week for the Suncoast robbery a "retaliation" by the district attorney’s office for his motion seeking a lower bail amount.
"The timing was questionable," Terry said, adding that prosecutors had sat on the complaint for several months.
Owens said he waited to file the Suncoast robbery complaint against Carleo because he had been negotiating with Terry in the Bellagio case. Owens said when he saw the bail motion he figured the negotiations were over and filed the new criminal complaint.
Carleo faces two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon and one count of burglary with a deadly weapon in the Dec. 9 robbery of the Suncoast poker room.
A preliminary hearing is set in that case for June 14 before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure. Carleo is being held on no bail in the Suncoast case. Terry said he was waiting for Leavitt’s ruling before asking Bonaventure for bail in the Suncoast case.
Authorities allege Carleo, the son of Las Vegas Municipal Judge George Assad, stole $1.5 million in chips during the Dec. 14 Bellagio robbery and about $18,000 in cash from the Suncoast.
Both the Bellagio and Suncoast robberies involved a man using a motorcycle for a quick getaway. In each, the man wore a helmet concealing his face.
Carleo was arrested and charged in the Bellagio heist on Feb. 2 after he sold 14 $25,000 chips to an undercover police officer.
In connection with the Bellagio heist, Carleo faces three counts of armed robbery, including an enhancement of a victim being 60 or older; two counts of assault with a deadly weapon; and one count each of burglary and carrying a concealed weapon.
Carleo remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
