Man lured victims by telling them woman was in labor
A man who authorities said lured two victims by telling them a woman he was with was pregnant before he beat and robbed them has been indicted, prosecutors said Friday.
Nicholas Daniel Crystal, also known as Tony Moreno, faces 14 counts including attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery, and burglary.
The 24-year-old and an unidentified woman stopped a man at a gas station near Tropicana Avenue and Koval Lane just after midnight on Aug. 5 and told the victim his sister was going into labor and needed a ride, according to prosecutor Christopher Hamner.
The woman, who has not been charged, hopped in the front seat of the SUV, while Crystal climbed in the back. The victim drove the couple to an apartment complex at 4411 Spencer Street, where he was struck in the back of the head with an unknown object, Hamner said.
Authorities later found the man’s vehicle, which had been set on fire, in Arizona.
Four days later, Crystal approached another man who was unloading his truck at an apartment complex at 825 Sierra Vista Drive. Crystal used a similar story, saying his girlfriend was pregnant, but the woman was not present, Hamner said.
The victim refused to give Crystal a ride, but allowed him to use a cell phone. Crystal then attacked the man with a rock, cutting his face and breaking his teeth.
District Judge Jennifer Togliatti set a $500,000 bail for Crystal, who is due in court next week.
Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker
