In December 2010, Anthony Carleo, the son of a former Las Vegas Municipal Court judge robs the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas. The “Biker Bandit,” rides up to a casino entrance on his motorcycle, walks to a craps table, pulls a gun and steals $1.5 million in casino chips. His downfall? He tries to sell $25,000 chips on a poker website using a screenname “OceanSpray25” (a reference to the cranberry color of the $25,000 chips). Police catch up with him seven weeks after the robbery at the Bellagio, where he is gambling and attempting to sell chips to undercover officers.
TIMELINE:
December 8, 2010: Anthony Carleo, wearing a motorcycle helmet, enters the poker cage at the Suncoast Casino in Las Vegas. He pulls a gun and walks away with $20,000 in cash.
December 11, 2010: According to the police report, Carleo tells a poker dealer at the Bellagio that all one needed to rob the casino was a “black mask and a motorcycle...and I have a motorcycle” and that it would be easier to pull the heist with two people. December 14, 2010: Carleo rides up to the Bellagio Hotel on a motorcycle. He walks to a craps table, pulls a gun and demands chips. He receives $1.5 million in chips in various denominations.
December 19, 2010 Carleo cashes out nearly $26,000 in chips, the largest amount of his casino transactions
December 20, 2010 A poker player tells Bellagio Vice President of Security Raymond Brown that he had played with a buddy that knew a "Tony" who was looking to sell "cranberry chips,'' slang for the $25,000 denominations. Brown alerts LVPD.
December 31, 2010 Carleo drops over $72,000 while gambling at the Bellagio.
January 16, 2011 Using the screen name “Oceanspray25” Carleo tries to sell chips on a Poker forum.
January 19, 2011: Carleo stays at Bellagio, enjoying complimentary meals, drinks and rooms furnished by the casino because he is a "high roller."
January 25, 2011: An undercover Las Vegas police officer and informant go to the Bellagio to identify any associates of Carleo. They find a man who had bought a $25,000 chip from Carleo for $10,000 in cash.
January 30, 2011: Carleo sells a “cranberry” (a $25,000 chip that is cranberry in color) to an undercover officer.
February 3, 2011: Carleo is arrested for the Bellagio Heist at the Bellagio Hotel.
August 24, 2011: Carelo is sentenced for the Bellagio heist.
August 25, 2011: Carleo is sentenced for the Suncoast Casino heist. For the two crimes he will serve a total of 9 to 27 years