O.J. robbery figure faces Nellis shoplifting charges
A key player in the 2007 O.J. Simpson robbery case is expected to appear in Las Vegas Justice Court on Monday on charges of shoplifting from the Nellis Air Force Base Exchange.
Bruce Lee Fromong, one of two sports memorabilia dealers robbed at gunpoint in the Simpson caper, faces two counts of petit larceny. The charges stem from two incidents in October and November at the base store.
According to a police report, the 57-year-old entered the exchange on Oct. 28 and used his keys to open a Madden football PlayStation 3 video game package. And he was seen carrying a Case Logic briefcase valued at $50, the report said.
Surveillance video showed Fromong carrying the briefcase before tearing off the price tag and throwing it away, according to the report. He was not seen toting the brief case when he entered the store, the report said.
Fromong returned to the exchange Nov. 4 and was seen opening another Madden football game, removing the disk and taping the empty box shut before placing it back on the shelf, the police report said.
“He was observed walking the floor with the item in his hands until he concealed it on his person and left the store without paying,” the report said.
Security cameras showed the man entering a Ford Explorer with Utah license plates, a vehicle authorities said is registered to Fromong.
Simpson was convicted of robbery after hatching a plot to rob Fromong and fellow dealer Alfred Beardsley of sports memorabilia during a meeting at Palace Station.
Simpson and five friends stormed into a Palace Station room and took footballs, photos and other memorabilia at gunpoint. Fromong reported the armed robbery.
During Simpson’s 2008 trial, his attorney said the Hall of Fame running back believed the memorabilia Fromong and Beardsley had in the hotel room had been stolen from Simpson years before.
Simpson, 64, was found guilty on charges including armed robbery and kidnapping and sentenced to between nine and 33 years in prison. He is serving his time at Lovelock Correctional Center, 90 miles north of Reno.
Fromong sued Simpson, alleging he suffered four heart attacks since 2007 because of the emotional stress stemming from the robbery. Fromong could not be reached for comment Friday.
Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at
apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.
