Longtime prosecutor lands on the opposite side of the table

Victoria Villegas has spent more than two decades prosecuting criminals as a respected member of the Clark County district attorney's office.

Now she finds herself under scrutiny in an ongoing federal investigation.

Maybe it was inevitable. Villegas has been in the process of divorcing attorney David Amesbury, who in October pleaded guilty to wire and bank fraud conspiracy charges in association with the HOA investigation. Amesbury, 57, agreed to cooperate with the FBI and Las Vegas police early in the investigation.

According to his pleading, Amesbury admitted that from March to September 2008 he helped rig homeowners association elections at the Pebble Creek and Chateau Nouveau condo complexes. He received $3,000 for acting as a straw man "monitor" of the HOA board votes.

He also admitted that, as a partner in the Courthouse Café at the Regional Justice Center, he conspired with his partners to defraud banks in pursuit of refinancing for the project. According to court documents, Amesbury and his partners received $8,000 a month from October 2008 to July 2009 to allow an as-yet-unidentified businessman run the cafe under the table.

Villegas filed for divorce Oct. 21, citing incompatibility and irreconcilable differences. Amesbury is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 23 by U.S. District Judge James Mahan.

In November, Amesbury was found badly beaten in Henderson and suffered injuries that sent him to the hospital, but FBI and Las Vegas police said the assault was unrelated to their investigation.

While Amesbury had a low profile and an undistinguished career as a lawyer, Villegas has been an effective member of the district attorney's criminal division. Her name surfaced in 1997 as a possible candidate to lead the U.S. attorney's office in Las Vegas.

Courthouse sources confirm that questions arose after Villegas was interviewed by the FBI and Las Vegas police regarding her knowledge of the Courthouse Café loan. If her conversation conflicted with known facts, she could face a criminal charge of misleading a federal officer.

Did Villegas become entangled in Amesbury's search for a loan for the Courthouse Café?

More importantly, was Villegas, a veteran prosecutor who should know the legal and ethical rules of engagement when it comes to interviews, candid with federal authorities?

Now I've learned that the district attorney's office recently started termination proceedings against Villegas, technically because of supposed abuse of family medical leave taken after she filed for divorce. Attempts to reach Villegas this week have been unsuccessful.

Attorney Adam Levine represents Villegas in the employment termination matter. He confirmed being retained but declined further comment.

DUNES REUNION: Gone but not forgotten, former employees of the Dunes will celebrate its colorful history at 5 p.m. Jan. 25 at the New York City Bar & Grill at 6168 W. Spring Mountain Road with their 19th annual Dunes Reunion.

On that night, perhaps one of the Dunes loyalists will tell about the time the beloved Dr. Joseph Fink, house physician at Caesars Palace, paid an unorthodox "house call" to casino boss Sid Wyman at the Dunes. Fink, who died in December, sent over an EKG machine and technicians to care for the ailing Wyman.

The late Dr. Fink treated an endless parade of Dunes employees, too.

TACO TEARS: It's enough to crunch your taco and leave you with a terminal case of indigestion.

It is with sincere sadness that I announce the impending closure of the Macayo's Mexican Restaurant at 4457 W. Charleston Blvd. after more than three decades in business.

For more than a generation, that Macayo's location was a favorite dining spot for local high school kids after Friday night football games and for local families any time.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? Email comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.