Bombing Suspects Return to Vegas

By Sun Staff (contact)

Saturday, June 3, 1967 | midnight

Three men arrested in connection with the $75,000 Sahara Hotel bomb extortion plot were returned in Las Vega Friday night from two Southern California sheriff’s officers by Clark County Sheriff’s Detectives.

Sheriff’s Deputies took custody of Jack Wesley Keeney, 42, and Nador Belas Kocsis, 27, from Los Angels County jailers following their arrest May 26.

THE THIRD suspect, Lonnie Nall, 42, also known as Lonnie Capel, was collected from Riverside County Jail by Nevada officials en route to Las Vegas.

Nall waived extradition – as did Keeney and Kocsis, California authorities stated.

The suspects, being brought back to Nevada by detectives Warren Adams and Spence Lemmon, were transported by rented automobile due to a shortage of space on airline flights to Las Vegas. Lt. Glen Simmons, chief of detectives said.

ACCORDING to Simmons, it was easier and cheaper to rent a vehicle in Southern California rather than send a car from Las Vegas.

The trio is accused of planting a homemade bomb in a 12th floor room of the 24-story hotel in an attempt to extort $75,000 from the management.

Keeney and Kocsis originally stated they would fight extradition and surprised authorities by signing waivers last Wednesday at their arraignment.

With the bomb was a note demanding $75,000 for information as to how to disarm it and a warning that other bombs had been planted in two other hotels owned by construction tycoon Del Webb.

SEVEN hotels in California, Nevada and Arizona were emptied of guests and employees as a precaution, following findings of the bomb and note. But no other bombs were found.

Nall, who was held on a fugitive warrant, was arrested Thursday in Green Acres, Calif., near Hemet, on a traffic warrant. He lives in Green Acres.