LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A man accused of driving an armed bandit to a casino that was robbed of $33,000 in chips pleaded not guilty Tuesday as police kept searching for the gunman.
Police said Edward Land was an accomplice to the Feb. 24 heist at
Police have said Land acknowledged driving a buddy to the Rio and watching him don a wig and fake moustache before leaving his car.
But a lawyer for Land said he had no knowledge a robbery was in the works.
"He had a robbery dumped in his lap," attorney Louis Schneider said after a hearing in Las Vegas Justice Court.
Land, 41, and taxi driver Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, 61, were arrested on suspicion of aiding the bandit, identified by police as 45-year-old Steven Gao.
Yamaguchi did not enter a plea at Tuesday's arraignment.
Judge Deborah Lippis increased bail for each man to $125,000 and set another hearing for March 15. Both defendants have been charged with burglary, robbery and conspiracy.
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