Local news briefs for May 26, 2000

Friday, May 26, 2000 | 11:11 a.m.

Train kills man lingering on tracks

A man lingering on railroad tracks was killed by a Union Pacific train Thursday night, Metro Police said.

Metro spokesman Tirso Dominguez said police got the call at 9:26 p.m. They later found the man's body on tracks west of the 3100 block of Industrial Road.

The man had not been identified by the Clark County coroner's office this morning.

Motorcyclist gets probation in death

A 28-year-old Las Vegas man was placed on probation for five years Thursday in connection with a 1997 traffic accident that took the life of an elderly Boulder City woman.

District Judge Lee Gates also ordered Aaron Britt to give up his motorcycle license for one year, attend an aggressive driving course, pay $5,500 in restitution and perform about 200 hours community service over a one-year period.

Deputy District Attorney Bruce Nelson said Britt was leaving a Boulder Highway Smith's Food and Drug Center on Dec. 30, 1997, when his motorcycle crashed into the passenger side door of a car that was turning into the parking lot.

The passenger in the car, Rosemary Lorentz, 70, died as a result. Her husband sustained a broken shoulder, broken ribs and a head injury.

Britt pleaded guilty to reckless driving in March in exchange for an involuntary manslaughter charge being dismissed.

Nelson said Britt will also be required to wear a bracelet saying: "Rosemary Lorentz, killed by my recklessness."

LV man faces mail fraud charges

A Las Vegas man who authorities allege bilked investors by promoting a phony fancy-food import business faces 45 charges in federal court.

Damian Cosmo Medici-Caiati, 62, who was arrested by the FBI at his home in the 6600 block of Lowden Lane, was indicted by a grand jury on 36 counts of money laundering, eight counts of mail fraud and one count of bank fraud.

According to the FBI, Caiati took a "substantial amount" of money from investors to operate a nonexistent import business specializing in Italian food headed for Las Vegas.

Caiati is also accused by the FBI of writing bad checks on several bank accounts, then depositing the money in other accounts to create false balances.

Harter names senior advisor

UNLV President Carol Harter selected communication studies professor Dr. Richard Jensen as her senior advisor Thursday.

He will serve as the liaison between Harter and UNLV faculty. Jensen replaces Rebecca Mills, who was named interim vice president of student life following the resignation of Robert Ackerman.

Airmen will serve in Turkey

Three helicopters and 54 airmen from the 66th Rescue Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base are set to depart today for Turkey in support of the United Nations' enforcement of the no-fly zone over Northern Iraq.

The deployment is for four months.