Court briefs for December 13, 2000

Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000 | 11:05 a.m.

Man convicted in fraud arrested

CARSON CITY -- A man who skipped his sentencing after pleading guilty to defrauding investors in a scheme involving Cuban cigars was arrested Tuesday in Las Vegas.

Peter Cobo was scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 14 on his guilty plea to three counts of securities fraud, but he never showed up.

As part of a plea bargain, Coco had agreed to pay more than $170,000 to seven victims. But he didn't make the first of four installments of $42,605, due Dec. 1.

Secretary of State Dean Heller, who oversees securities fraud cases, said Cobo told investors he had inside information that the United States was about to lift its trade embargo against Cuba, thereby opening up the markets. He maintained he had exclusive rights to sell Cuban cigars in the United States, Canada and South America.

Cobo was jailed after being arrested by investigators from the secretary of state's office.

UNLV police move lawsuit

A lawsuit filed against UNLV by three campus police officers has been moved from federal court to state court.

The lawsuit, filed in September in U.S. District Court, alleges the university defamed the officers following a controversial drug investigation. The University and Community College System of Nevada is also named in the lawsuit filed by officers Ron Cuzze, Terry Jenkinson and Brian Dias.

An attorney for the officers withdrew the lawsuit in federal court and refiled it Tuesday in Clark County District Court.