Judge’s Son Arrested in Brazen Bellagio Casino Chips Robbery

The son of a Las Vegas municipal judge was arrested during the overnight hours Wednesday in connection with the December's $1.5 million Bellagio casino heist.

Anthony Michael Carleo, 29, the son of Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge George Assad, Detained.

Carleo is alleged to have entered the establishment at 3:50 am December 14 armed with a rifle, wearing motorcycle gear including a concealing face helmet, robbing the establishment of the $1.5 million in chips from a craps table within a few minutes period.  He left on motorcycle.

The suspect is said to have been staying at the hotel the night of the robbery. Police executed search warrants at both the hotel and at the home of the judge.

There was some question as to whether the Bellagio chips could ultimately be tracked if attempts were made to cash them in.

Carleo is a Pueblo, Colo., resident who worked as a real estate broker and owns two other businesses, according to police reports.  One of the businesses is said to be a mobile disk jockey service while the other is a limousine company co-owned with his stepfather.

He reportedly filed for bankruptcy just over a year ago and in recent months has lived with Assad.

Assad was appointed to Las Vegas Municipal Court Dept. 3 in June 2002.

- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com