Rio robbery accomplice skips bail
An accomplice to the brazen 2011 armed robbery of a Pai Gow table at the Rio is on the lam.
Edward Land was set to be sentenced Tuesday for his role in the robbery of $33,200 in gaming chips, but didn’t show up for the hearing.
Judge Jerry Tao issued a no bail bench warrant for Land’s arrest. The 43-year-old defendant had been free on $125,000 bail.
Land’s lawyer, Louis Schneider, told the judge his client said he injured his leg while visiting Red Rock canyon. On Thursday, Schneider confirmed he received an email from Land stating he had broken his ankle.
Land was still not in custody as of Thursday afternoon, jail records show.
Last week, Tao sentenced Land’s co-defendant, Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, 64, to two to six years in prison and pay $15,000 in restitution to the Rio.
Schneider and Yamaguchi’s lawyer, Bob Draskovich, were hoping their clients would receive probation, because they played minor roles in the robbery.
Las Vegas police have yet to catch the main figure in the robbery, suspected gunman Steven Gao, who they believe is in China.
Gao had a gambling problem and was trying to get money to pay a $15,000 debt to Land, investigators believe.
On the day of the robbery, Land drove Gao to the casino believing Gao was going to get his money.
But Land didn’t know it was going to be a robbery, Schneider has said. When they arrived, Gao took out a revolver and a mask. Land fled, Schneider said.
Following the robbery, police searched Land’s home, near Spring Mountain Road and Durango Drive. There, investigators recovered $17,000 in Rio chips, a wig and a shoulder bag used by Gao in the robbery.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
