Two plead not guilty in Rio robbery
Two of three men charged with the February armed robbery of $33,200 in gaming chips from the Rio pleaded not guilty Tuesday.
Edward Land, 41, and Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, 62, are charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary with use of a deadly weapon. Yamaguchi is being held at the Clark County Detention Center. Land is free on $125,000 bond.
A trial was set for Jan. 23 before District Judge Jerry Tao.
The third suspect, Steven Gao, is the man authorities think robbed a pai gow table at the Rio at gunpoint about 4:30 a.m. Feb. 24 while wearing a disguise. He remains at large, and authorities think he might have fled to California.
Yamaguchi is accused of being the getaway driver, using his cab to drive Gao from the Rio to Terrible’s casino, where he met Land.
Casino and in-cab security tapes helped police crack the case. Police found an unloaded revolver and $1,000 in chips in Yamaguchi’s cab after the robbery.
Gao reportedly has a gambling problem, police said, and was trying to get money to pay a $15,000 debt to Land.
Police allege Land was aware that Gao got the chips illegally, possibly by robbery. According to his arrest report, Land knew he was wrong to be involved but wanted the money.
At Land’s home, near Spring Mountain Road and Durango Drive, investigators recovered $17,000 in Rio chips, a wig and a shoulder bag that police say was used by Gao in the robbery.
Attorneys for Land have said that he is a victim in the case and that he "emphatically denies participation in the robbery."
