2011 Rio Armed Robbery Suspect Arrested by FBI in Los Angeles

A suspect wanted for an armed robbery on the Rio Hotel and Casino almost a decade ago has been arrested in Los Angeles by the FBI Fugitive Task Force…

60-year old Steven Gao has been on the run since February 2011 when $33,000 in chips were stolen from one of the Rio casino’s Pai Gow tables.

Gao was named shortly after the armed robbery as the main suspect, having entered the Rio with a gun and mask, making off with the chips in a taxi driven by fellow robber, 62-year old Hiroyuki Yamaguchi.

A third person, Steven Land, told detectives afterwards that he believed problem gambler Gow, who owed him $15,000, was merely picking up money at the Rio in order to repay him.

Land later plead guilty to robbery and conspiracy, as did Yamaguchi, the latter receiving a 2 to 6-year sentence, with Land skipping his $125,000 bail – a warrant out for his arrest.

Gao was believed to have fled to China, but for whatever reason he was back in the USA this week, the FBI Fugitive Task Force arresting him.

Gao is now awaiting extradition back to Nevada to face charges of ‘conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon and robbery with use of a deadly weapon’.