Jeff German

Story Archive

Tensions simmer over intersecting state probes: Krolicki, evidence-vault cases put agencies at odds; Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008; The lengthy criminal investigation of Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki finally came to fruition last month, but it has chilled relations between the state’s top two law enforcement agencies.
Their dreams shattered, investors left to wonder: Development company founder owes millions, some to retirees; Friday, Nov. 28, 2008; When Luis Rojas cashed in his $52,000 pension fund annuity in 2005, he thought he had found the perfect investment that would allow him and his wife to lead comfortable lives in retirement.
Feds want to muzzle claim of agent behaving badly: Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008; Federal prosecutors are mounting an 11th-hour attempt to stop a hearing about alleged government misconduct.
Prosecutor going after hip-hop mogul 'Suge' Knight: Charges relate to drugs, attack on woman in August; Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008; District Attorney David Roger says he expects to file a criminal complaint Monday against Marion “Suge” Knight.
Justice of the Peace may be charged with domestic violence: Friday, Nov. 14, 2008; Metro Police are recommending a misdemeanor domestic violence charge against Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangelo over an early morning fight this week with his wife, Sue, who is the sister of District Judge Michelle
Leavitt.
Hire brings baggage to strip joint seeking permit: Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008; A former Crazy Horse Too shift manager who served time in prison after a federal racketeering probe at the topless club is back in the business in a big way.
U.S. attorney for state hopes Obama keeps him on job: Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008; Greg Brower, the U.S. attorney for Nevada, says he hopes the Democratic administration of Barack Obama won’t fire him.
Reporter’s journey from story to screen: TV movie on Ted Binion’s death ends long, frustrating, but ultimately satisfying process for Sun’s Jeff German; Friday, Nov. 7, 2008; They had me at the opening credits.
Press conference about organized crime scuttled — by organized crime: Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008; Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto had it all planned out: She would make a media splash in her office Friday signing an agreement with her counterpart in Baja California to share information in Mexico's fight against organized crime.
Confiscated money hangs in tangled web of delays: Judge who recommended officers be punished might soon exit case; Monday, Nov. 3, 2008; Metro Police and 18 of its officers have been under a judge’s threat of punishment for more than a year over the failure to return several hundred thousand dollars in cash and property that the judge ruled was illegally seized from three Las Vegas gamblers.
Feds seek license to operate topless bar: Agency wants to reopen Crazy Horse Too; Friday, Oct. 31, 2008; In an about face, the U.S. Marshals Service says it now wants to apply for an exotic dance permit and liquor license from the city to operate the Crazy Horse Too.
State goes after CSN official’s estate: Citing ‘money the taxpayers lost,’ attorney general seeks ‘100 percent’ of 4.26-acre property; Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008; The Nevada attorney general’s office is trying to force College of Southern Nevada construction chief William “Bob” Gilbert to forfeit the sprawling Mount Charleston estate he’s accused of building with college money and resources.
Conditions at jail ‘harsh,’ but court can’t change them: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008; A federal magistrate has concluded that conditions at the North Las Vegas jail are “admittedly harsh.”
Proving alleged cover-up won’t be easy: But rules in civil court give Gibbons accuser an opportunity; Monday, Oct. 27, 2008; The most intriguing — and important — aspect of Chrissy Mazzeo’s civil rights lawsuit against Gov. Jim Gibbons isn’t what it alleges happened between the two on the night of Oct. 13, 2006, but rather its allegations that the then-sheriff, his officers and the governor’s powerful political allies tried to cover up what happened.
Bank seeks to foreclose on club, leaving others owed with zilch: Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008; An impatient California bank has asked U.S. District Judge Philip Pro to lift his stay prohibiting the bank from foreclosing on the Crazy Horse Too to satisfy a $5 million loan it made to former owner Rick Rizzolo.
Six questions for Daniel Bogden: Monday, Oct. 20, 2008; Daniel Bogden and eight other former U.S. attorneys were vindicated recently when the Justice Department’s inspector general concluded that their 2006 firings were arbitrary and recommended appointment of a special prosecutor. Bogden, who is now practicing law in Reno, shared his thoughts about the internal investigation with the Sun.
New details emerge in suit against Gibbons: Governor’s alleged assaults of cocktail waitress in garage, at hotel described; Monday, Oct. 20, 2008; With a confidence she lacked two years ago, Chrissy Mazzeo is swinging harder this time at Gov. Jim Gibbons and the political establishment she says covered up for him.
Grand jury transcripts released in CSN misconduct case: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008; Just-released grand jury transcripts provide an inside look into the attorney general's criminal theft investigation of William "Bob" Gilbert, the College of Southern Nevada's associate vice president of management facilities.
‘Girls Gone Wild’ mogul posts bail, walks free: Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008; “Girls Gone Wild” producer Joe Francis got a taste of the Clark County Detention Center this week without having to spend any time behind bars.
Judge, lawyer in libel suit to view Adelson file: Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008; State gaming regulators carefully guard the fruits of their background investigations on license applicants.
No place to sit, take notes: During long meeting with violent client, lawyers find out how tough a lockup can be; Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008; Jails holding members of the white supremacist prison gang the Aryan Warriors are having a hard time balancing security concerns and constitutional rights.
Defense in sting case claims agents used racial slur: Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008; Some analysts years ago said the verdict in the O.J. Simpson murder case may have turned on the audiotape of Detective Mark Fuhrman’s use of the N-word.
What Gilbert didn’t tell CSN about his past: Indicted CSN construction chief was convicted of embezzlement, served time; Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008; The College of Southern Nevada’s just-indicted construction chief was convicted of embezzlement 17 years ago, according to documents obtained by the Sun.
CSN official faces felony charges: 34-count indictment alleges theft of college property; Friday, Sept. 26, 2008; William “Bob” Gilbert, the College of Southern Nevada’s beleaguered construction chief, and three of his employees were indicted by a county grand jury Thursday on felony charges of stealing materials and equipment from the college to build his dream home on Mount Charleston.
Why wiretapping a reporter’s calls endangers trust: Role as government watchdog is put at risk; Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008; The number of wiretaps authorized by Nevada judges in criminal cases more than doubled last year, far above the nation’s overall hike of 20 percent, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
Porn mogul: Check to casino was good: But with account now closed, DA’s office defends case; Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008; “Girls Gone Wild” mogul Joe Francis said Tuesday there was no criminal intent on his part to avoid paying his gambling debts to Wynn Las Vegas.
DA trains sights on porn mogul over debt: Felony warrant sought against ‘Girls Gone Wild’ producer; Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008; The district attorney’s office is seeking a felony arrest warrant for “Girls Gone Wild” producer Joe Francis for failing to pay $2 million in gambling debts at Wynn Las Vegas.
Lockdown hell: That's the reputation that isolating dangerous federal inmates for their own protection has earned North Las Vegas jail; Friday, Sept. 19, 2008; Tony Morgan has been in and out of Nevada’s toughest prisons since 1988, but he says none of them treated him worse than his current house of incarceration, the North Las Vegas jail — where he is in protective custody.
Control of news, gift shops a rich prize: Concessioners offer county millions in incentives for contract; Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008; A high-powered political battle is brewing over lucrative news and gift shops at McCarran International Airport.
Defense: Agents acted like criminals: Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008; Defense attorneys have unleashed an ambitious attack on the credibility of a 15-month federal undercover investigation aimed at some of the valley’s most violent criminals.
Locking up criminals locks in rising costs: Tough sentencing laws keep inmates streaming to crowded facilities; Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008; Nevadans hold two values close: They are tough on crime, and tight-fisted with public money.
They can no longer be both.
A study by the Las Vegas Sun has found that those two values are today in stark opposition.
Club in Palazzo opens, but legal fight isn’t over: Adelson says delays hurt resort’s business; Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008; Restaurateurs Marc Packer and Richard Wolf have at last unveiled the nightclub Lavo, their latest Strip creation. But their wealthy, litigious landlord is still trying to kick them out for failing to open on time.
Chuck Short: County court system’s executive officer; Monday, Aug. 18, 2008; Chuck Short retires Aug. 29 after 15 years as the county court system’s executive officer. He offered the Sun some parting thoughts.
Setting: Tattoo parlor. Operation: Drug, firearm sting: Federal investigation ends with arrests, but suspicion turns on an agent who ran it; Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008; Tucked away in a small business center in the shadow of the Strip, the Hustler Tattoo shop seemed to attract more than its share of colorful figures until it abruptly shut its doors in May.
Gambler says Wynn plied him with prostitutes: Casino owner, accused of abetting losses, files defamation lawsuit; Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008; In one corner is an art-collecting casino mogul and in the other is a millionaire soft-porn outlaw, and at stake are millions of dollars and the reputation of a Strip casino.
Sentencing study finds disparities you’d expect: But it didn’t delve into why blacks, men in state get more prison time; Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008; Blacks get more prison time than whites, and women receive lighter sentences than men, according to a university study of the state’s court system released Tuesday.
What was on his stolen laptop gave DA cause for nightmares: Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008; There was something more valuable in District Attorney David Roger’s briefcase than $800 in U.S. Open tickets — his personal laptop containing copies of all of the evidence in the O.J. Simpson armed robbery case.
Desai staffer stonewalls plaintiffs’ attorneys: Deposition may hint at what’s ahead in civil cases over series of Las Vegas hepatitis infections; Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008; The massive civil litigation over the hepatitis outbreak linked to the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada is heating up.
County braces for 08/08/08 couples: Run on marriage licenses expected to begin Wednesday; Friday, Aug. 1, 2008; County marriage license officials figure they ought to be able to go at least one better on 08/08/08 than they did on 07/07/07.
Feds may race Grim Reaper in gang case: Death penalty is costly to pursue, lawyers argue, and Ely inmate is dying; Thursday, July 31, 2008; Federal prosecutors rarely seek the death penalty, but they believe they have the perfect candidate in Ronald “Joey” Sellers, the reputed leader of Nevada’s most violent prison gang.
You can ride but you can't hide: Saturday, July 26, 2008; It turns out those annoying phone calls from debt collectors really are inescapable.
Jones takes stand in probe of Minxx club shooting in ’07: Thursday, July 24, 2008; It turns out that suspended NFL player Adam “Don’t Call Me Pacman” Jones was indeed a star witness for the grand jury probe into the February 2007 shooting at the Minxx strip club.
Testify for a friend, jeopardize a career: Man’s conviction in sex assault likely to haunt senator; Saturday, July 19, 2008; Dennis Nolan rolled the dice last week at the Regional Justice Center — and crapped out.
Lawyer in, out of, back in China bank case: State Supreme Court suspends Posin, then lets him defend client; Thursday, July 17, 2008; One month into an international racketeering trial expected to last into September, one of the defense lawyers in the federal case has been suspended.
Potential jurors’ IDs put at risk in breach: Court finds printer’s employee e-mailed personal data to herself; Wednesday, July 16, 2008; District Court in Clark County inadvertently put tens of thousands of people at risk for identity theft when computer software allowed prospective jurors’ confidential information to be released to a private contractor.
Federal prosecutors appeal dismissal of case against lawyer Noel Gage: Monday, July 14, 2008; The U.S. Attorney’s office today filed notice it was appealing the dismissal of its fraud case against personal injury lawyer Noel Gage.
Marshals credited with saving a life: Man, 73, suffered heart attack at justice center; Monday, July 14, 2008; To deal with his traffic ticket, 73-year-old Rudolph Pristow walked five blocks in blistering 110-degree heat Tuesday afternoon to get to the Regional Justice Center.
Pacman testifies before grand jury in shooting case: Friday, July 11, 2008; Suspended NFL star Adam “Pacman” Jones testified Thursday afternoon before a Clark County grand jury investigating the Feb. 19, 2007, shooting at the Minxx strip club that left former club manager Tom Urbanski paralyzed from the waist down. Jones, 24, accused of inciting a melee that led to the shooting, pleaded no contest in December to a disorderly conduct charge and agreed to cooperate in the Metro Police investigation.
Senator backs man accused in ’04 assault: He takes stand as character witness during man’s trial; Friday, July 11, 2008; Dennis Nolan says he always found Gordon Joseph Lawes to be a “good guy” in the 10 years he’s known him.
New chief court executive officer: Thursday, June 26, 2008