LAS VEGAS - The stakes were high for Bellagio armed robbery suspect Anthony Carleo. The downfall was coming for the one-time high roller.
Running out of the famous casino in a motorcycle helmet with $1.5 million in stolen casino chips was risky enough. After the daring casino caper, police say Carleo took other chances that ultimately got him
Carleo allegedly contacted Matt Brooks through the web site TwoPlusTwo.com. Brooks, a poker enthusiast who lives in Washington D.C., says Carleo wanted to sell high-dollar chips from the Bellagio.
"My head was kind of spinning from the moment he sent the first e-mail, just kind of in disbelief about what was going on," Brooks said.
A rapport quickly developed, and Brooks says Carleo sent him a series of pictures showing the stolen chips. The chips were personalized for Brooks, who uses the handle "Provotrout" on the poker site. Carleo signed the pictures "Biker Bandit".
"If you look at the picture, it's kind of clear that he viewed himself as some kind of star or celebrity, because he could get away with such a big robbery," said Brooks.
In an e-mail between the two strangers, Carleo allegedly wrote, "If you can help me help you, then we will both be very happy people here shortly."
"When I talked to him on the phone, he was pretty desperate and said that he was just kind of running out of options," Brooks said. "(He) was really pressing me for information on how he could unload the chips."
A suspicious and alarmed Brooks asked if he was talking to the real Bellagio robber. "I asked him specifically, ‘Is this a set of chips that you got from someone else and you're just trying to unload them, or is this whole thing your deal?' Like basically saying, did you rob the casino? He said, ‘Yeah, this is my deal.'"
Brooks never knew Carleo's real name and says he didn't want to know. Once he got enough solid information, Brooks went to the FBI, Metro Police and Bellagio.
Brooks says he felt Carleo acted like a young guy who pulled off a caper like in an old movie.
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