Caesars Palace Theft Suspects Accused of Stealing $120K and $20K Rolex
In a shocking incident at the famous Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, two women are accused of stealing a staggering $120,000 in cash and a Rolex watch valued at $20,000 from a guest.
The theft took place after the victim, who was in town for a convention, won a significant amount of money playing blackjack.
The two women, identified as Coriana Singelton, 29, and Marriah Vanderwaal, 32, allegedly took advantage of the man’s intoxicated state, leading to the theft.
The police report specifically mentioned “trick rolling,” according to KLAS TV.
That’s a slang reference to the famous bait and switch internet meme, “Rick Rolling,” where an unrelated hyperlink actually opens the YouTube video of the 80s hit song Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley.
However, the actual term is not a joke for anyone involved. A “trick roll” is sex worker slang for a theft from an intoxicated, sleeping, or distracted victim, coming from the slang “trick,” meaning a client.
A Winning Night Takes a Turn
In this latest case, the victim, who had been staying at Caesars Palace for the convention, told the police that he and his coworkers had been playing blackjack for several hours.
After his substantial win of approximately $125,000, he cashed out. And somewhat unwisely, took it all in cash rather than having some paid as a check.
Shortly afterwards, as video surveillance from Caesars Palace confirmed, he encountered the two women. The victim said he did not remember inviting the two women back to his room, although security footage shows them returning together.
A few hours later, upon waking up, the victim discovered the theft of his money and the Rolex watch. Given his intoxicated state, he could not recall much of the events after meeting Singelton and Vanderwaal.
Investigation and Arrests
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) examined video surveillance from Caesars Palace, with the help of staff. Investigators identified the two women entering the victim’s room, then later leaving the hotel.
The two suspects were helpfully identified by distinctive tattoos.
Further investigation led them to two vehicles and residences connected to Singelton and Vanderwaal.
Both women were subsequently arrested and taken to the Clark County Detention Center. Singelton, who had a history of previous arrests by the LVMPD, faces several charges, including grand larceny, burglary, and conspiracy to commit grand larceny. Vanderwaal, on the other hand, is charged with grand larceny, residential burglary, and conspiracy of grand larceny.
Both have an initial hearing date set for October 30. Police have not revealed whether the cash or watch were recovered.
Costly Trick
The case is a rather costly incident of a not unheard-of phenomenon in Nevada casinos and hotel resorts.
Although sex work is legal in certain areas of Nevada, on the Las Vegas Strip it most certainly is not. Nevertheless, in Sin City, clandestine encounters do happen, and sometimes, the would-be client ends up losing more than the price they initially agreed to pay.
The reported cases may also only be part of the full picture, as embarrassment and fear of legal repercussions may discourage victims from coming forward.
Earlier in 2023, in January, two women were arrested on suspicion of stealing $5,000 and a Rolex watch from a man’s room at Caesars after being invited in. A similar incident happened later that month, in which $100k in cash was stolen, also at Caesars Palace.
In a further case from late 2022, one man was (for a short while) relieved of his $230,000 Audemars Piglet watch at an unnamed casino hotel. The victim asserted it wasn’t a case of prostitution. But the police report of the suspect’s arrest disagreed.
Caesars Entertainment, the operator of Caesars Palace, was also in hot water this week for other reasons. It is being sued in multiple lawsuits over a data breach it suffered when it was attacked by ransomware-using cyber criminals earlier this month.