Vegas Crime Files Episode Summary

In this episode of Vegas Crime Files, Heidi Harris talks with gaming journalist Rick Velotta about Nevada’s infamous “Black Book” — the state’s official List of Excluded Persons banned from casinos.

The conversation traces the Black Book’s origins back to 1960, when Nevada created it to keep organized crime figures out of casinos during the mob era. Over time, the list evolved from targeting mobsters to focusing on major casino cheats, illegal gambling operators, and other serious offenders connected to the gaming industry.

Rick explains how modern casino cheating schemes have become increasingly sophisticated, from slot-machine manipulation devices to complex illegal betting operations. The discussion also explores how Nevada’s approach differs from other states like New Jersey, which maintains a much larger exclusion list.

The episode dives into the controversy surrounding due process and lifetime exclusion. Once someone is placed in Nevada’s Black Book, they are banned from entering casinos indefinitely — even restaurants or entertainment venues inside casinos. Critics argue the process can be overly punitive, while supporters say the list protects the integrity of Nevada gaming.

The conversation also highlights current high-profile cases, including bookmaker Matthew Bowyer and longtime excluded figure Frank Citro, both of whom are seeking removal from the Black Book. Their cases raise broader questions about redemption, rehabilitation, and whether lifetime bans should ever be reconsidered.

Along the way, the episode touches on gambling addiction, casino security, mob history, and some of the most unusual cheating methods ever uncovered in Las Vegas.

Rick Velotta bio:

Richard N. “Rick” Velotta has covered business, the gaming industry, tourism, transportation and aviation in Las Vegas for 25 years. A former reporter and editor with the Las Vegas Sun, the Ogden (Utah) Standard-Examiner, the Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff and the Aurora (Colo.) Sun, Velotta is a graduate of Northern Arizona University where he won the school’s top journalism honor.

Rick's articles in the RJ. https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/changes-could-be-made-to-nevadas-black-book-this-week-3791013/

https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/illegal-bookmaker-nix-added-to-nevadas-black-book-3712421/

https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/theyve-got-me-over-a-barrel-convicted-gambler-says-he-was-a-fall-guy-for-non-complying-casinos-3709482/

https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/gaming-commission-to-consider-removal-of-man-from-black-book-3612194/

https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/it-wasnt-oceans-11-but-these-cheaters-took-1-2m-from-bellagio-and-landed-in-black-book-3421576/

Vegas Crime Files is recorded and produced in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Host Heidi Harris is a 28 year award-winning broadcaster, born and raised in Vegas. Member, Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Follow us on all the socials: Vegas Crime Files and VegasCrimeFiles.com

On Valentine’s Day 1996, a 19-year-old pregnant newlywed sat inside a Las Vegas convenience store, keeping her husband company during his overnight shift.

She never made it home.

In this episode of Vegas Crime Files, Heidi Harris speaks with the first officer on the scene and the lead homicide detective who worked the case—two men who never forgot what they saw that night.

You’ll hear:

• What the first responding officer encountered walking into the store
• The haunting moments inside UMC as doctors fought to save both mother and baby
• How two suspects, disguised as women, carried out the robbery
• Why the case took years to resolve
• And how fear kept key witnesses from testifying

This is a story about violence, loss—and the lasting impact on everyone who was there.

https://lasvegassun.com/news/1996/feb/22/where-i-stand-go-shopping-to-buy-not-die/

https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/homicides/men-arrested-in-1996-killing-were-identified-by-girlfriend-at-the-time-2103748/

https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/homicides/pregnant-womans-killing-haunts-family-24-years-later-2164032/

Everyone remembers the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles.

Almost no one knows what happened next.

Fright Night: The 30 Days of Riots Las Vegas Doesn’t Talk About

What this episode covers:

• The overlooked Las Vegas riots following the Rodney King verdict
• Why the unrest lasted 30 days, not just one night
• The role of gangs, media, and delayed response
• How close rioters came to downtown Las Vegas
• Firsthand accounts from officers under fire
• Lessons learned that changed policing going forward

👤 Guests:

• Lt. Governor Stavros Anthony – Nevada Lieutenant Governor, former Metro Police Captain, author of Knights of Fire
• David Radcliffe – Metro officer on the front lines
• Eddie Kravetz – Metro sergeant, community policing specialist
• David Sheppard – Former FBI agent, brought armored vehicle support

🔥 Key moments:

• Rioters stopped just short of Fremont Street
• Officers taking sustained gunfire
• Firefighters targeted while responding to fires
• Gangs coordinating attacks
• Armored vehicle deployed under fire

📚 Mentioned:

• Knights of Fire by Stavros Anthony

📣 Connect:

• Email: Heidi@VegasCrimeFiles.com
• Follow & subscribe: Vegas Crime Files

For nearly 30 days, Las Vegas descended into chaos—fires, ambushes, and more than a thousand rounds fired at police, firefighters, and civilians.

In this special episode of Vegas Crime Files, Heidi Harris sits down with Nevada Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony—who documented the events—and three officers who were on the front lines.

They describe:

• The night hundreds of rioters marched toward downtown
• The moment officers made a stand just blocks from Fremont Street
• What it was like taking gunfire from all directions
• How gangs that normally fought each other joined forces
• And why the situation spiraled before it was finally shut down

This isn’t history from a textbook—it’s firsthand from the people who lived it.

A major chapter of Las Vegas history… that most people never even knew happened.

In this episode of Vegas Crime Files, Heidi Harris speaks with retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sergeant Tom Page, a 25-year veteran who worked as a patrol, traffic, and training sergeant.

Sergeant Page explains why officers stop vehicles, what drivers must legally provide, and the mistakes people make that can escalate routine traffic stops into dangerous encounters.

If you drive in Nevada — or anywhere — understanding how traffic stops work can help keep situations calm and safe for everyone involved.

• The two legal reasons police can stop a vehicle: probable cause and reasonable suspicion

• Why officers sometimes run license plates at stoplights

• What drivers are legally required to provide during a stop

• Why signing a traffic citation does not mean admitting guilt

• What happens if you refuse to sign a ticket

• When police can legally ask drivers to step out of the vehicle

• Why officers may temporarily use handcuffs during a stop

• The difference between a pat-down and a search

• How DUI investigations work, including field sobriety tests

• Special traffic enforcement issues unique to Las Vegas

Sergeant Tom Page (Ret.)

Former Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department sergeant with 25 years of service, including patrol, traffic enforcement, and officer training.

Most traffic stops are routine encounters. But misunderstanding your rights — or refusing basic lawful instructions — can quickly escalate a situation. Knowing what officers are legally allowed to do, and what drivers are required to do, can prevent unnecessary conflict.

Follow Vegas Crime Files wherever you get your podcasts.

🌐 Website: vegascrimefiles.com

📧 Contact: heidi@vegascrimefiles.com

📱 Social: @VegasCrimeFiles

Episode Summary

What happens to police officers when someone forces them into a life-or-death decision?

In this episode of Vegas Crime Files, Heidi Harris speaks with retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officer Marcus Martin, who spent nearly 25 years with Metro after serving nine years in the Marine Corps.

Marcus describes two incidents in his career involving suicide by cop, including a call during his first week on the jobthat he says he will never forget.

The conversation explores what these situations are really like for officers on scene, the emotional toll they carry afterward, and why these incidents are often misunderstood by the public.

• What “suicide by cop” actually means
• A shocking incident during Marcus’s first week as a police officer
• The psychological impact these incidents have on officers
• Why the public often misunderstands police use-of-force situations
• What happens to officers after a critical incident
• The importance of counseling and support after traumatic calls

Marcus Martin served nine years in the United States Marine Corps and nearly 25 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. During his career he worked patrol and critical incident investigations and experienced multiple situations involving suicide by cop.

Vegas Crime Files explores the real stories behind crime in Las Vegas through interviews with the people who were there — detectives, journalists, and witnesses who experienced the cases firsthand.

Host Heidi Harris, a longtime Las Vegas broadcaster and member of the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame, brings decades of local knowledge and connections to the stories that shaped the city.

When Lake Mead’s water levels dropped, they revealed more than abandoned boats and buried history—they revealed a body sealed inside a barrel. Who was this person, and why has no one ever identified them? In this the premier episode of Vegas Crime Files, host Heidi Harris explores the mystery alongside a cold case detective and a veteran journalist, uncovering the investigative dead ends, the unanswered questions, and the quiet human tragedy behind one of Las Vegas’s most unsettling discoveries.

Body https://news3lv.com/news/local/body-found-in-barrel-at-lake-mead-remains-unidentified-after-three-years

Shoes and clothing https://www.8newsnow.com/investigators/clothing-shoes-could-help-id-man-found-dead-in-barrel-at-lake-mead-outside-las-vegas/

What did he look like? https://www.crimeonline.com/2023/11/30/fbi-provides-composites-of-man-found-shot-dead-in-barrel-in-lake-mead-last-year/

Son of drowning victim recently discovered speaks out https://news3lv.com/news/local/son-of-identified-lake-mead-victim-remembers-father-thomas-erndt-clark-county-southern-nevada-las-vegas-skeletal-remains-20-years-later-2002-drowning

Clothing https://www.8newsnow.com/investigators/clothing-shoes-could-help-id-man-found-dead-in-barrel-at-lake-mead-outside-las-vegas/

Mob Museum story on bodies in barrels https://themobmuseum.org/blog/stuffing-murder-victims-in-barrels-a-common-practice-since-mid-19th-century/

Vegas cold case recently solved https://dnasolves.com/articles/stephanie-isaacson-murder/

Support our sponsors who make this podcast possible:

SkinFuzion skinfuzion.com

Wellthcare wellthcare.com

Follow us! (But not too close) VegasCrimeFiles.com