Police now believe they have the infamous Bellagio “Biker Bandit,” the man who stole $1.5 million worth of casino chips from the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, in custody, thanks to among other things, diligent police work, Bellagio Management, questionable judgment, and the Two Plus Two poker forums.

According to a recent article from the Associated Press, Anthony Carleo, the man now being named as the helmeted motorcyclist that walked into the Bellagio December 14th with a gun, and out again with around $1.5 million in chips, has spent much of his time since the robbery throwing his newly acquired money around, playing at the Bellagio’s high stakes poker tables, and attempting to figure out the best ways to cash in his larger denomination chips, after the Bellagio Management announced they would be removing the $25,000 chips from circulation.  Carleo, at one point apparently out of ideas, even turned to the Two Plus Two poker forums for help, where the robbery was often a big source of conversation.  While on the forums, Carleo began discussing the robbery and the best ways to launder the chips with Matthew Brooks, a 29-year old poker player out of D.C., ultimately moving off the public threads to personal emails and phone calls on the topic. 

Eventually, through their numerous discussions, it became clear to Brooks that Carleo may not just be blowing smoke when admitting he's the “Biker Bandit,” and that he may actually be the man police were looking for.  Carleo, even went so far as to email Brook’s pictures of some of the $25,000 chips they were discussing, along with a genuine “Biker Bandit” autograph.  It was around that time that Brooks decided to contact the FBI, police and the Bellagio.

Not long after those discussions, Carleo, the son of a Las Vegas municipal judge, was apprehended by police at the Bellagio- where he was often staying as a comped high roller- after selling five of the $25,000 chips to an undercover officer, even casually admitting to the officer that he had robbed the Bellagio in the past.