Person of interest sought in Bellagio robbery
An armed robber escaped with tens of thousand of dollars from the Bellagio on Friday night, and Las Vegas police have asked for the public’s help finding a person of interest in the crime.
Las Vegas police responded to the casino about 8:30 p.m. and the man pointed a gun at a cashier and demanded money. He then ran from the casino on foot.
It’s unclear if the man had a vehicle.
The man was caught on video. He didn’t threaten anyone but the teller.
“Unfortunately the teller was pretty much traumatized by the whole thing,” said a police officer who requested anonymity. “It’s pretty horrific having a gun stuck in your face.”
Police don’t know the exact amount the man stole but estimated it at $30,000. A casino employee confirmed that a man robbed a cashier cage at gunpoint and he said the robber took about $50,000.
A hotel spokesperson said the Bellagio is cooperating with police, who did not provide any information Saturday morning.
As a result of the investigation, Metro’s robbery detectives identified 32-year-old Jesse Jones as a “person of interest” in the incident. Police described Jones as about 6 feet 2 inches tall and 215 pounds with a bald head and blue eyes. He has a tattoo above his eyes, across both eyebrows, that reads, “WHITE PRIDE.”
Gaming Control Board Chairman A.G. Burnett declined comment on the robbery.
This is not the first armed robbery at the Bellagio’s casino floor.
In February 2011, Anthony Carleo, son of former Las Vegas Municipal Judge George Assad, was arrested weeks after a Bellagio heist where police said he took $1.5 million in gambling chips.
Surveillance videos showed Carleo park a Suzuki motorcycle at the casino’s valet area and walk into the casino wearing black clothing and concealing his face with a white-striped helmet. He headed to a craps table showing a gun, witnesses said.
Carleo was arrested after selling 14 stolen $25,000 chips for $7,000 to $10,000 each to an undercover officer in multiple meetings, Las Vegas police said.
The same officer testified that Carleo was upset that his father had cut his $1,000-a-month allowance to $600. Carleo was using cocaine and prescription drugs, the officer said.
Anyone with information on this incident or the whereabouts of Jesse Jones can call Metro’s robbery section at 702-828-3591. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or www.crimestoppersofnv.com. Tips directly leading to an arrest or indictment processed through Crime Stoppers may result in a cash reward.
Review-Journal writers Howard Stutz, Wesley Juhl and Ashley Casper contributed to this report. Contact Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com. Follow @blasky on Twitter. Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites.
