Former Turnberry controller pleads guilty to fraud charge

A former controller for the company that developed several high-end properties, including Turnberry Place and Town Square Shopping Center, pleaded guilty Monday in a $5.4 million embezzlement scheme.

Hope Ippoliti, 51, who was a western regional controller for Turnberry West Realty, a subsidiary of Turnberry Associates, entered a guilty plea in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. As part of her deal, Ippoliti agreed to pay restitution and cooperate with prosecutors.

She is to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro on July 11.

Ippoliti, who is free on her own recognizance, and her friend Rocco Lazazzaro, 55, were indicted by a federal grand jury in December with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 24 counts of wire fraud.

Lazazzaro, who is in federal custody, was charged with one count of attempted interference with commerce by threats and violence. He faces an April 23 trial.

The two Las Vegas defendants carried out a scheme involving fraudulent bank account transfers over a five-year period, according to the indictment.

Turnberry West Realty also was involved in the development of the Residences at MGM and Turnberry Towers in the shadow of the Strip, prosecutors said.

According to the indictment, Ippoliti had signatory authority and access to Turnberry bank accounts. Between May 2007 and January 2012, Ippoliti falsely represented that fund transfer requests she made were for Turnberry business-related expenses, when she intended to use the money to benefit herself and Lazazzaro, the indictment alleged.

Between Feb. 14 and Feb. 16, 2012, Lazazzaro attempted to extort more money from Turnberry Associates, the indictment alleged.

Earlier this month, Lazazzaro sent a letter to Navarro seeking help in resolving his criminal case. In the letter, he said he has life-threatening HIV and does not want to die in prison. He blamed his participation in the scheme on gambling, alcohol and drug addictions. In a subsequent letter, Lazazzaro said Ippoliti was not being truthful about his role.

A hearing on a sealed request from his lawyers in the federal public defender’s office had been scheduled Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Leen, but it was put off until later in the week.