Local news briefs for November 7, 2000

Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2000 | 10:52 a.m.

Fugitive diamond dealer nabbed in LV

The United States on Monday extradited to Switzerland an Israeli diamond dealer who was arrested in Las Vegas on charges of defrauding suppliers of $8 million, the Swiss Justice Ministry said.

Moshe Regev, 48, also known as Moshe Regenstreich, was arrested in Las Vegas in May. He arrived in Zurich on Monday accompanied by four American police officers and was taken to the capital, Bern.

From 1993 to 1995 Regev was chairman of two companies -- UCCB AG and Diamond Club AG -- in the northwestern Swiss town of Lyss.

During that time he allegedly received shipments of diamonds that were never paid for and used transfers between the two companies to siphon off the money.

The companies collapsed in March 1995 and Regev left the country. An international arrest warrant was issued for him in 1998, and he had not been heard of again until his arrest in Las Vegas.

The Nevada judge in charge of the case authorized Regev's extradition in September, the Justice Ministry said. No date was immediately given for proceedings against him in Switzerland.

Suspect surrenders to Metro Police

A 54-year-old Las Vegas man, a suspect in the shooting death of his girlfriend's nephew earlier in the day, surrendered to Metro Police Monday night.

Freddie Williams was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on murder charges after he surrendered about 8:15 p.m., Lt. Wayne Petersen of Metro's homicide unit said.

Williams is accused of killing 24-year-old Tyler Gallucci about 12:30 p.m. Monday in the 3600 block of Park Street, Petersen said.

Gallucci, who had been living at his aunt's home, got into an argument with Williams, who is the woman's boyfriend, police said.

Williams was held without bond in the Clark County jail.

Gallucci's slaying was the 85th homicide so far this year in Metro's jurisdiction compared with 94 at the same time last year.

Helping Hands wins award

The nonprofit group James Seastrand Helping Hands of North Las Vegas was given the Outstanding Community Service Award in Southern Nevada by Gov. Kenny Guinn.

The American Association of Retired Persons' public access television station in Carson City was given the award for Northern Nevada at a ceremony last week.

Last week's award ceremony was sponsored by Nevada Division for Aging Services and Senior Dimensions, a division of Health Plan of Nevada.

The James Seastrand organization is a volunteer program that assists the frail and elderly in North Las Vegas.