Casinos in Vegas earn a lot of money from the high rollers and novice gamblers who would love to change their fortunes. While many people are willing to spin their fortunes with destiny, there are some who decide to rob the casinos instead. Some of the heists have been successful, while most criminals have been caught. Here are the biggest Las Vegas casino heists.
1. Heather Catherine Tallchief ($3 million)
Heather Tallchief understood that it’s easier to steal money from a casino while outside it than within it. In 1993 she had the perfect opportunity to commit the perfect crime. Her story’s now featured Netflix docuseries, “Heist.”
During the heist, she worked as an armored van driver for the Loomis Armored Car Company in Las Vegas. She and her two co-workers, Scott Stewart, and Steve Marshall, were making the rounds of several casinos, replenishing ATMs with cash. Once the two alighted to fill the casino ATMs, she drove away with $2.9 million (in $100 and $20 bills).
She drove away, never to be found till 12 years later when she turned herself in from the Netherlands, only to serve 63 months in jail and was released in 2010. Her partner in crime, Roberto Ignacio Solis, is still at large.
2. Stardust Sportsbook Cashier Walks Out With Cash ($500,000)
William John Brennan, who worked at the Stardust sportsbook from 1988 to 1992 as a cashier seemed trustworthy.
On a certain day, he walked out with $225,000 in cash and and an undisclosed number of casino chips. The total amount in cash he stole is rumored to be at least half a million. Fortunately for Mr. Brennan, he has never been apprehended, and his former employer went out of business in 2007.
3. Bellagio Bandit ($1.5 million in casino chips)
Casino chips have value in the casino and can be sold back to redeem cash. Antonio Carleo, the son of a Las Vegas judge, was able to steal up to $1.5 million in casino chips from Bellagio Casino.
However, he was caught selling 14 chips worth $25,000 to an undercover police officer.
4. Rogue police officer ($164,000)
Law enforcement officers are not exempt from the temptation of wanting to get rich from ill-gotten casino cash. A Las Vegas police officer has been indicted by a federal grand jury for stealing $164,000 in three separate incidents.
Caleb Rodger, the police officer, took $78,900 from Rio in February 2022, and another $78,810 from the Red Rock Resort in November 2022, and a further 11,500 from Aliante Hotel in January 2023. The officer is said to have stolen the money at gunpoint.
5. Gang Robbery ($155, 000)
Jose Manuel Vigoa, a gang leader, was involved in several heists, including robbing $155,000 from Bellagio in June 2000. He was arrested in June 2001 and charged with shooting two armored car guards outside a Ross Dress for Less store in Henderson. He pleaded guilty to all the crimes and received the maximum sentence in 2002.
