Casino-Robbing Las Vegas Cop Gets 12 Years in Prison

Article by : Erik Gibbs Oct 19, 2023

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In Las Vegas, former police officer Caleb Rogers, who was found guilty of robbing three casinos, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. The sentencing took place in a Las Vegas federal courtroom before US District Judge Andrew Gordon.

After serving his prison term, Rogers will also be subject to three years of probation. Prosecutors had initially sought a 20-year prison sentence, but Rogers’ lawyer requested leniency, emphasizing his past career in law enforcement.

In a sentencing memo submitted to the court before the hearing, attorney Richard Pocker noted that Rogers had chosen a career dedicated to protecting society, unlike many of his peers who pursued self-serving paths.

A federal jury convicted Rogers in July on all charges related to three casino heists, during which he stole nearly $165,000. In one of these heists, he was armed with a department-issued loaded weapon.

According to an arrest report from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the incident occurred when a man rushed to the employee side of the sportsbook counter at the Rio last year, pushing one worker to the ground.

He proceeded to threaten two employees and took cash from the drawer, placing it into a bag. During this act, an employee activated robbery alarms to alert security, prompting the man to leap over the counter and make his escape.

Security officers pursued him outside through the west doors, with one officer successfully tackling him in the driveway near the parking garage.

Upon inspecting the gun recovered at the scene, investigators discovered it belonged to the LVMPD and had been checked out to Rogers, as indicated in an FBI complaint.

Additionally, prosecutors identified Rogers as a suspect in two other robberies that occurred at Aliante and Red Rock Casino. Rogers’ brother, Josiah Rogers, testified during the trial, revealing that the two had rehearsed one of the robberies.

Judge Gordon acknowledged that Caleb Rogers faced challenges stemming from a gambling addiction and financial difficulties. Despite this, the judge recognized Rogers’ contributions to the community.

The judge sentenced Rogers to less than the potential maximum of 22 years, in addition to an extra three years of supervised release post-prison. He also ordered Rogers to pay $85,310 in restitution to the casinos.

At the time of the heists, Rogers worked as a patrol officer and targeted casinos off the Strip, with the crimes commencing in November 2021. The jury convicted Rogers of all three robberies, along with an enhancement for brandishing a weapon, which added a mandatory seven years to his sentence.