Local news briefs for June 29, 2000

Thursday, June 29, 2000 | 11 a.m.

Warrant issued for LV man

Federal officials have issued an arrest warrant for a Las Vegas man accused of running an ATM scam that bilked investors of $2 million.

Louis M. Vallette, 61, is wanted on fraud and money-laundering charges.

Vallette was initially charged by warrant in 1997, but he has eluded arrest. Federal prosecutors recently sought a grand jury indictment before the five-year statute of limitations was reached in the case.

Police, coroner rule out homicide

A fast-food restaurant manager's death does not appear to be a homicide, Metro Police said this morning.

Danielle Piccolo, 26, of Las Vegas, was found June 5 in the back seat of her car in a parking lot at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Craig Road. At the time, police said her death appeared to be a homicide.

The Clark County coroner found that she died from the alcohol and methamphetamine in her system. Her death has not been ruled accidental.

Applications will be scrutinized

The executive director of the Citizens Review Board of Metro Police will begin sifting through more than 300 applications from potential board members following Wednesday's 5 p.m. deadline.

Andrea Beckman will weed out residents who are not eligible for the board, which will investigate Metro misconduct cases if complainants are not pleased with an Internal Affairs Bureau probe.

The applications then will be forwarded to the Clark County, which will choose 13 members, and the city of Las Vegas, which will pick 12 members. After the district attorney's office conducts background checks, the board members will attend a series of lectures before they begin hearing cases.