Prosecutors seem to lose energy in high-roller case

The theft case against high-roller Terrance Watanabe has gotten its share of public attention.

But behind the scenes is where the real action is taking place.

On Tuesday, Harrah’s Entertainment executives and one of their hired guns, Las Vegas attorney Dominic Gentile, practiced the art of friendly persuasion in the case at the district attorney's office.

Their goal? To get wavering prosecutors to press ahead with the criminal charges against Watanabe for not paying the casino giant $14.7 million in markers in 2007.

The high-powered Harrah’s contingent met privately for about an hour with Assistant District Attorney Chris Owens, the No. 2 person in the office, and Chief Deputy District Attorney Bernie Zadrowski, who runs the bad check unit prosecuting Watanabe.

The meeting was the result of a similar sit-down two months ago between the prosecutors and Watanabe’s lead Los Angeles lawyer, Pierce O’Donnell, who pushed for a dismissal of the case.

O’Donnell brought with him a box of documents showing Watanabe’s extensive play at Caesars Palace and the Rio. The defense claims Watanabe lost a whopping $189 million at the two casinos in 2007, which makes that $14.7 million he allegedly still owes look very minuscule.

Since the meeting with O’Donnell, prosecutors haven’t been excited about keeping the criminal case alive.

Did the Harrah's execs and Gentile give the district attorney's office reason to move forward? Stay tuned.

Watanabe is set to stand trial on July 12.