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Anthony Carleo appears at the Regional Justice Center on June 16, 2011. He admitted to robbing the Suncoast and Bellagio casinos last December.
By Dave Toplikar (contact) 
Published Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011 | 9:29 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011 | 12:19 p.m.
Sun coverage
- Carleo admits to Suncoast robbery, could get up to 72 years (6-16-11)
- Prosecutor: Carleo could get 3 to 36 years for Bellagio robbery
- Alleged Bellagio ‘biker bandit’ pleads not guilty in district court (4-21-2011)
- Bellagio robbery defendant headed to district court (4-8-2011)
- Doctor expected to testify at hearing of accused Bellagio casino robber (4-1-2011)
- Confidential informant to testify at Bellagio robbery hearing (3-9-2011)
- Hearing suspended until next month in Bellagio robbery case (2-23-2011)
- Hearing set for alleged Bellagio ‘Biker Bandit’ (2-7-2011)
- Man has chance encounter on Internet with alleged 'Biker Bandit' (2-4-2011)
- Metro Police arrest judge’s son in Bellagio casino robbery (2-3-2011)
- After Bellagio heist, how slack security can cost Las Vegas casinos (1-11-2011)
- Bellagio nixing $25,000 chip after heist (12-29-2010)
- Bellagio bandit gets $1.5 million in gambling chips (12-14-2010)
Anthony Carleo, the self-described “Biker Bandit” and “Cranberrykid” who admitted robbing the Bellagio and Suncoast casinos, will be going to prison for at least three years after a sentence handed down this morning in Clark County District Court.
“I’m very sorry for everything I’ve done. I owe my mother and my father an apology,” Carleo told Judge Michelle Leavitt, speaking softly in a courtroom that contained mostly news media and his friends and family. His father, former Las Vegas Municipal Judge George Assad, was at the sentencing.
Judge Leavitt sentenced Carleo to serve from three to 11 years for the robbery, which took place in December. Carleo admitted he was the man who, on Dec. 14, dressed in black, including a full-faced motorcycle helmet, went into the craps pit area of the Bellagio and took about $1.5 million in casino chips, including many cranberry-colored $25,000 chips, then sped away on a motorcycle.
He also admitted he had used the same tactic on Dec. 9 to rob the Suncoast casino of $18,945 from a cashier’s cage that was near where a poker tournament had been taking place.
Carleo is scheduled to be sentenced for the Suncoast robbery at 8:15 a.m. Aug. 25 before Judge Michael Villani. For the Suncoast robbery, Carleo has pleaded guilty to one count of robbery with the use of a deadly weapon and assault with the use of a deadly weapon in connection with the Suncoast robbery.
Carleo’s attorney, William Terry, told the court that he would argue for the sentences in both robberies to run concurrently.
Terry said Carleo had been the “all-American boy” before getting mixed up in drugs and gambling when he came to Las Vegas to further his education at UNLV.
Terry said Carleo started using marijuana, then hurt his knee in an accident and started taking prescription drugs for the pain. Terry said Carleo became hooked on the prescription medication, then eventually became hooked on both cocaine and gambling.
Assistant District Attorney Chris Owens argued for a heavy sentence, saying Carleo brandished a weapon during the robberies and threatened potential witnesses with violence after the robberies.
Owens also said Carleo not only planned out the two casino robberies, but also was planning to hit Caesars Palace using the same tactics, before he was arrested.
Originally, Carleo was charged with seven felony counts in the Bellagio robbery. Under his plea deal, he pleaded guilty in the Bellagio heist to one count of robbery with the use of a deadly weapon and assault with the use of a deadly weapon. Leavitt sentenced him to serve from 24 to 84 months on the robbery charge, plus a consecutive sentence of from 12 to 48 months for the use of a deadly weapon. She also sentenced him to serve a 12- to 36-month concurrent sentence for the assault charge.
Carleo's attorney argued against the $1.5 million in restitution, saying that many of the chips Carleo stole were either recovered or are now worthless because the casino has discontinued their use.
"Certainly the Bellagio will never utilize or accept those chips again," Terry said.
After hearing that argument, Leavitt decided to continue the issue of restitution until Carleo is sentenced on Thursday for the Suncoast robbery.
In arguing for a tough sentence, Owens said casino employees who were involved in the robbery were "terrorized by the use of a real gun" and there was the potential danger to others at the casino.
"The defendant acted extremely recklessly in the commission of this crime," Owens said.
Owens said Carleo had "every opportunity in life," including the financial support of his family.
"It wasn't that he did it and felt remorseful about it. He just went right into the next planning, went right into the next crime," Owens said. He said they found plans in Carleo's hotel room that showed he had been making plans to rob Caesars Palace.
"He thought this was fun. He referred to himself as the 'bandit' and the 'Cranberry kid' and to him it was just a big joke," Owens said.
Owens said he would argue for consecutive, rather than for concurrent, sentences for the Suncoast robbery.
"We'll be addressing that with the next judge in a couple of days," Owens said. "There really should be a double penalty for these two different events just a few days apart and recognizing the seriousness of both these activities in our community."
Why the $1.5 million in restitution? Completely unpossible for him to ever pay. And nobody lost that amount of money. As near as I can tell, Bellagio lost nothing, though they did have to retire those cranberry chips. If I was judge I would have given him 20 years and skilled the silly restitution bit.
Typical corrupt judge connection, a slap on the wrist for their crowd. What happened to the judge's kid who killed the 15 year old girl? or the one who smashed her car into the copy shop? (the dogs did it) Yes, juice for judges.
I thought they were calling him the "Cranberry A-hole"
Three years for armed robbery, and will be out in less than two. I guess it pays to have a former judge for a father.
Where's the expose proving he used ex-judge Assan's gun in the robbery? Typical Metro pay off and corruption, along with David Roger.
Should be ex-judge's "Assad's" gun.
Armed robbery apparently pays off in Vegas - he'll be out in a few months (credit for time served).
Not a bad risk/reward ratio.......awefully hard to come across $1.5mm for someone with only a high schoool education.
And if he had kept his big mouth shut he probably would have gotten away with it
It must be nice to have Daddy and all his connections. Folks if any of us peasants did an armed robbery of this type we would get alot more time than 3 - 11 years. And anyone one of you think he will do more than the three years? Disgusting.
Also, the reference to "Cranberrykid" shouldn't be more like the "white trash stick-up man"? The Sun is glamorizing this story just a little.....
So when stick-up man get's out, who want's to play poker with him??
With the character attributes of a politician, this "bandit" certainly qualifies as a social parasite -- something, America has never had a problem incubating in mass quantities -- to life, love and loot -- we salute, those protecting our prestigious gambling rackets.
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Has to make you think about who you are connected to. OJ got 5 to 15 years for stealing his own stuff back using a gun. They compounded all kinds of charges on OJ for doing less then this guy did.
OJ should have had a judge for a relative I guess.
OJ got 9-33 years.
Anyway, this is looking more and more like a good idea. The only thing I would have done differently was:
1. Only take chips of $500 or less and proceed until back-pack if FULL.
2. Don't try selling them online to people YOU DONT KNOW!
3. RIDE THE BIKE INTO the Casino, dont take a chance by parking it in Valet - even if it means crashing through the doors
What does everyone think?
He'll make a bundle on a Reality Show when he gets out.
Disgusting. Having a daddy who was a judge did him well. 3 years for 3 robberies of casinos, who the DA holds up as Gods. He will be back at it soon after this slap on the wrist.
ctys20 lets do it
I hope he gets the help he needs.
The dollar amount in a theft should matter. He stole enough money to be set for life and is eligible for parole in as little as 3 years. That is not deterrence at all that just encourages that sort of thing.
Chefken - you onboard?
Okay, first we need to pick a location with easy access to the street/sidewalk - I'm thinking Harrah's or Slot's of Fun, both have their tables a few FEET from the sidewalk.
On the one hand Harrah's has more $$$$$ on the other hand a prick on a motorcycle might not be unusual near slot's of fun......
We will improve on Bike Bandit #1 by RIDING INTO THE CASINO, no Valet parking, no gun needed. Just cruise right into the pit area and then REV THE ENGINE as loud as you can, in a closed space it will sound like a "chopper" is landing. LOL
As everyone is fleeing we will be LOADING our backbacks with loot. And for good measure, on the way out do a burnout in the lobby.
Unless the Cops are on motorcycles they don't stand a chance of catching a bike.....
And even in the WORST CASE ifffff you are caught 3 years in jail is not that bad. That's just enough time to catch-up on my poker game, read a few books, get some extra sleep.
It wouldn't surpise me if this becomes a new trend, i.e. stay off Vegas blvd. between 2am-4am b/c too many biker bandits!!!!!!
Enjoy the pokey!
Metro hide the fact that the gun used in the crime belonged to to Judge Assad. Police report said "registered to Assad's address." Who was it registered to Metro? Is getting the Metro cop who crashed his car in Henderson while drunk off the hook part of the "grand deal" Mr. Metro?
The media, the cops, the DA and the Judges are all corrupt. It took the LA Times to expose the rotten judges here.
To my fellow Bloggers, I concur with your comments regarding the sentence of this robber. Normally the penalty is 2 to 15 years for robbery per count. If a deadly weapon is used it is 4 to 30 years per count. This town never fails to amaze me, it is sad. Just an old cop reflecting, Gordon Martines
How does he repay the $300,000 he lost gambling, including $70,000 on new years eve?
This dumb ass learned nothing. He pulled this heist twice and had the arrogance to go back to the Bellagio and gamble with the stolen loot...and take their comps for hotel room and meals.
The minute you pull out a gun on someone in a robbery...my feeling is 7-10 years minimum. This joker isn't going to be a changed person after a couple years in the joint.
HeeeHeee
HoHo
Justice
Yeh right.
O.J. Never will get a break like this guy,he'll be out in two years.
hey, at least he said he was sorry, right?