A Las Vegas police officer found himself sentenced to 12 years in federal prison on Tuesday. The officer, Caleb Rogers, was convicted of stealing almost $165,000 during a series of casino heists. In one of these incidents, he was even found guilty of brandishing his department-issued firearm.
Caleb Rogers, who has been in an unpaid suspension and isolated in a jail cell for nearly 20 months, expressed his apologies before the sentencing. His mother, Crystal Rogers from Toledo, Ohio, told the judge that while she wasn't pleased with her son's actions, he had the full support of their family.
During his arrest in February 2022, Rogers brandished his gun after a brief struggle with casino security officers in a parking lot near the Las Vegas Strip. One of the guards was so traumatized that he left his job and pursued an entirely new career.
Caleb Rogers, donned in eyeglasses, a beard, and yellow jail attire with his dark hair tied back in a short ponytail, mentioned that all he does while incarcerated is think about the impact of his actions on his family and everyone involved. He expressed remorse, stating, "I do understand my mistakes, and I pray for a chance at redemption."
U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon acknowledged Rogers' struggles with gambling addiction and financial problems, giving credit to his community service. Rogers' lawyer, Richard Pocker, argued for leniency, highlighting his client's role in a family ministry, assistance to the homeless, and prior work as an emergency medical technician before becoming a Las Vegas police officer in 2015. Pocker found it ironic that Rogers' status as a police officer might lead to harsher punishment.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stated that Rogers' job status would be determined by an ongoing internal investigation. The judge sentenced Rogers to less than the maximum possible 22 years, with an additional three years of supervised release after prison and ordered Rogers to pay $85,310 in restitution to the casinos.
Judge Gordon recognized Rogers' past service to the community, saying, "You served your community well for a time. Unfortunately, it appears your demons got the better of you," noting that instead of seeking help, Rogers resorted to armed robbery.
Rogers was working as a patrol officer when he carried out the casino heists, which began in November 2021 and targeted casinos off the Strip. A jury convicted him in July for all three robberies and an enhancement for brandishing a weapon, adding a mandatory seven years to his sentence.
Rogers' lawyer, Pocker, stated they intended to appeal the convictions and sentence to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, citing weak evidence linking his client to two of the robberies presented by the U.S. government.
Throughout Rogers' weeklong trial, prosecutors depicted him as a gambling addict who grew increasingly desperate due to mounting debts. They claimed he enlisted his younger brother's help in robbing a casino in Summerlin, a wealthy community in northwest Las Vegas.
Josiah Rogers testified under immunity from prosecution, providing details of their robbery at the Red Rock Casino in November 2021. The brothers had rehearsed the pre-dawn robbery, scouted the property, and used coded language in an encrypted messaging app to coordinate their plans.
Afterward, they counted out $73,810 on their shared apartment's dining table, with Josiah Rogers keeping $30,000 and relocating to their hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
Caleb Rogers was also found guilty of robbing the Aliante Casino Hotel Spa in North Las Vegas, taking about $11,500 on January 6, 2022.
Approximately seven weeks later, he stormed the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino's sportsbook, pushing aside a cashier in her 60s and threatening to use a gun while collecting $79,000 into a drawstring bag hidden inside his jacket.
He was swiftly tackled by a group of security guards outside the casino, causing a wig he had been wearing to fly off his head, and the money concealed in his jacket was recovered.
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