Funny thing. If you’re from the East Coast you’ll get this. Back where I come from, if your name is Myron Leavitt, you ain’t Irish; meaning, that’s a pretty obvious Jewish name. Here in Vegas, there is a respected family of lawyers so named. A Mormon family. This really confused me when I first moved …
A Vegas/New York character and a crazy car chase Read More »
Wynn Daughter Kidnapping A couple of weeks ago, the ringleader of the plot to kidnap Steve Wynn’s daughter back in 1993 was released from federal prison after serving 21 years of a 24 year sentence. The Bureau of Prisons routinely returns inmates to the District in which they were tried and sentenced, to then be …
The Wynn Daughter Kidnapping: A Family’s Nightmare Read More »
In 1990, as a “rookie” AUSA, prosecuted and tried several street level cocaine dealers as well as Christov, their supplier. When it was later discovered that Christov continued to run his operation from jail, he was first defendant to plead under Continuing Criminal Enterprise (“CCE”) statute in Nevada. Subsequent investigation “up the chain” resulted in …
U.S. v Strachil Christov et. al. (“Classic ‘Up The Chain’”) Read More »
In 1991, tried notorious suspected serial killer – apprehended via “Unsolved Mysteries” television broadcast – for three bank robberies committed in Las Vegas eight years earlier, while a fugitive on a Virginia murder charge. Defendant, a decorated former U.S. Army Captain and Vietnam veteran, was convicted after a challenging trial, and subsequently pled guilty to …
U.S. v Gregory Richard Barker (“Solved Mystery”) Read More »
In 1993, prosecuted two defendants for conspiracy to commit murder for hire. Ashburn had previously shot intended victim Ed Bumgartner and another individual, who was in fact killed, then dumped them both in a farmhouse and set fire to it. After being convicted of the original crimes (murder, attempted murder, arson) Ashburn contacted Davis, who …
U.S. v Jerry Dean Ashburn and Allen Davis (“Life Imitates Art”) Read More »
In 1993, prosecuted con man who persuaded victims that he and his “team” could replicate dollar bills if victims could provide them. Scam involved a demonstration of a “scientific process” by which a bill with previously altered serial numbers would be passed off as a replication of another. Defendant, represented by former mob lawyer and …