Casino Crime Roundup: $250K in Diamonds Stolen from The Palazzo

Posted on: June 18, 2024, 07:37h. 

Last updated on: June 19, 2024, 09:55h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Four suspects are facing charges after they allegedly swiped $250K worth of diamond rings from The Palazzo at The Venetian Resort last month.

The Palazzo
The Palazzo, pictured above. Four suspects were arrested in jewelry theft there. (Image: Kayak)

The expensive rings were inside a bag during a conference at the Las Vegas Strip property. The bag was stolen from an unnamed jeweler on May 31 while he was at a bar at the gaming property.

The four suspects sat next to the jeweler and took part in the scheme, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS.

One of the suspects was able to move the bag with his foot before a second suspect took control of the bag, and a third suspect hid the theft from view, authorities said. The plot was captured on casino surveillance video.

Officers were on the lookout for the suspects on June 1 at the property when they were located and apprehended.

The four suspects were identified as Juan Parrado Mendez, David Parrado Mendez, Melany Millian Lopez, and Leidy Grisales Suarez. Each was charged with grand larceny and conspiracy to commit grand larceny, according to court records. A judge released each of the four on their own recognizance.

The jeweler later told Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers he took the bag into the bar because he had to carry it with him at all times due to insurance requirements.

Casino Jackpot Switch

Three suspects were apprehended after they took part in a scheme where they changed seats in an Indiana casino to collect a jackpot in April.

The trio were at Bally’s Evansville Casino & Hotel when they participated in what police describe as a “jackpot switch,” according to Indiana TV station WEVV.

The suspects were identified as Shinvar Abdullatif, Ali Mohamad, and Delavan Mohammed, all of Nashville, Tenn.

Officials spotted that Abdullatif won a jackpot before Mohammed allegedly took Abdullatif’s seat by the gaming machine and tried to collect the payout.

Earlier that same day, Abdullatif made four other jackpot switches, police said. Mohammed allegedly did three of the others. A fourth was done with Mohamad, authorities added.

Abdullatif placed his name on a self-exclusion list at the casino and wasn’t supposed to enter the property for a year.

The suspects later were booked on gambling charges at Vanderburgh County Jail in Evansville, Ind. Each was released from custody.

The incident was investigated by the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC).