Feds to take over Moulin Rouge case

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003 | 11:03 a.m.

Federal authorities will be taking over the prosecution of a man accused of setting a fire that destroyed the historic Moulin Rouge casino, District Attorney David Roger said.

The district attorney's office on Tuesday dropped arson and conspiracy charges against John Antwan Caver, 29, nicknamed "Antman." A federal grand jury may hand down an indictment charging him in connection with the blaze.

"We agreed that the U.S. attorney's office and the ATF would take over the prosecution" because federal officials have more resources that local authorities, Roger said.

U.S. attorney's office spokeswoman Natalie Collins said Tuesday that no federal charges had been filed against Caver or alleged accomplice Fred Ball.

Officials had alleged that Ball, 45, also known as "Bubba," served as a lookout while Caver set the May 29 blaze that destroyed the long-closed casino about a mile northwest of downtown Las Vegas.

Ball had admitted to investigators that he helped set the fire and implicated Caver as his co-conspirator, prosecutors said.

Three people were hurt in the three-alarm fire, which burned for hours and left little standing in the ashes except the Moulin Rouge's marquee.

About 100 residents of nearby apartments, converted from hotel rooms, were evacuated.

Caver and Ball were arrested in June and freed on bond.

The charges against Ball were dropped in September. Roger said then that federal charges could be filed because the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Damage from the fire was estimated at $12 million.