Marshal impersonator sentenced

Jace Radke

Monday, Jan. 27, 2003 | 9:41 a.m.

A Las Vegas man found guilty of charges stemming from impersonating a U.S. marshal has been sentenced to 27 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Philip Pro.

During a hearing Federal Public Defender Kevin Tate argued Friday that his client, Michael Lugiai, should receive a lighter sentence because he has mental problems.

Pro didn't dispute Tate's opinion of Lugiai, but handed down the prison sentence.

"No one's saying you're crazy," Pro said to Lugiai. "But it's as clear as the noses on our faces that you're a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic."

Lugiai, 33, pleaded guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a gun and illegal possession of an official badge. According to court documents, Lugiai, a former employee of the Art Institute of Las Vegas, told a female applicant to the institute that he was a federal marshal.

He showed the woman a counterfeit U.S. Marshals badge and tried to repeatedly lure her to his home to discuss admission to the school, Assistant U.S. Attorney Darin LaHood said.

"We have someone here who is essentially a pathological liar, who impersonates law enforcement and has guns," LaHood said during the hearing.

Lugiai's previous conviction is a 1994 charge of impersonating a Cook County, Ill., sheriff, Lahood said.

In that incident Lugiai was pulled over for a traffic violation in an unmarked car with police lights on top. Inside the car police found shirts and hats with "Cook County Sheriff" on them.