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 6-21-10
Inside Vegas - Steve Miller

Steve Miller is a former Las Vegas City Councilman. In 1991, the readers of the Las Vegas Review Journal voted him the "Most Effective Public Official" in Southern Nevada. Visit his website at: http://www.SteveMiller4LasVegas.com


Dominic Rizzolo Set Free Four Years Early
Charge dropped from Felony to Gross Misdemeanor
with help from Vegas Judge and District Attorney

..
                           Judge Jackie Glass                                                   Dominic Rizzolo                      District Attorney David Roger

INSIDE VEGAS by Steve Miller
AmericanMafia.com
June 21, 2010

LAS VEGAS - Dominic Rizzolo, 26, son of convicted racketeer Rick Rizzolo, in January 2009 pleaded guilty to Battery With Use Of A Deadly Weapon, a category B felony, after he stabbed a man in the chest during a botched extortion attempt. He was given five years probation by Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass.

According to the January 14, 2009 Las Vegas Review-Journal, police said prosecutors should have considered attempted murder and conspiracy charges

Dominic's prosecutor was Clark County District Attorney David Roger, a long time friend of Rick Rizzolo and the Rizzolo's family attorney Tony Sgro. Roger was the benefactor of a 2003 political fundraiser in the Rizzolo's Canyon Gate estate, and received over $50,000 in campaign contributions based on Rick Rizzolo's efforts. Sgro donated Roger's campaign headquarters in 2007 when Roger ran for reelection.

Dominic's judge was the honorable Jackie Glass who is best known for presiding over the 2008, O.J. Simpson robbery and kidnapping case. She's been described as a no-nonsense judge known for tough sentences. Because "violent crimes are on the rise in most cities across the nation," Glass tried to set an example by sentencing Simpson to over 9 years in state prison -- even though he didn't cause his victims physical harm (in that particular case).

Judge Glass is the wife of Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Wolfson, a prominent local criminal defense attorney and outgoing Mayor Oscar Goodman's choice as his successor in the upcoming 2011 mayoral election. Goodman, prior to his election in 1999, was Rick Rizzolo's criminal defense attorney and corporate agent.

Dominic failed to appear at his arraignment on October 13, 2009 -- nine months after the crime occurred!

Upon his no-show, the court generously gave Dominic twenty additional days in which to appear. When he finally showed up, he plead guilty to the following criminal act as described by his victim almost a year earlier.

At approximately 10 PM, January 21, 2008, Dominic Rizzolo drove to William Moyer's home in a dark colored SUV with the license place covered by a T-shirt.

As an indicator of premeditation, Moyer, 26,  had received a phone call on the night of the incident asking if he was staying home that evening? Fifteen minutes later, Rizzolo knocked at his door.

Moyer's mother answered the door and summoned her son. The two men conversed on the front lawn for several minutes until Rizzolo asked Moyer, "Do you know who my family is?" then demanded $20,000.

Moyer said he refused the demand and ordered Rizzolo off the property. Rizzolo struck Moyer in the face with his fist. A fight ensued in which Rizzolo pulled a six inch switch blade knife and stabbed Moyer in the upper abdomen.

Rizzolo fled the scene, and was arrested six weeks later at the home of a family friend in west Las Vegas where he was staying. Rizzolo was booked, then immediately released on his own recognizance. His attorney later posted $13,000 bail.

Acting on a tip, police arrested Dominic while he was staying at a Summerlin estate owned by Rick Rizzolo's god son Rick Belcastro. It's not known whether Belcastro knew that his house guest was being sought by police for over six weeks.


http://courtgate.coca.co.clark.nv.us:8490/DistrictCourt/asp/SearchPartyOptions.asp (Type in Rizzolo, Dominic)

Hospital records indicate Dominic Rizzolo's blade came within one half inch of William Moyer's aorta. The law is very clear about penalties that should result when a victim suffers substantial bodily harm.

Nevada Revised Statutes Section 200.481 - Crimes and Punishments - (2) Substantial bodily harm to the victim results, for a category B felony by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 15 years, and may be further punished by a fine of not more than $10,000.

Judge Glass ignored statutes and suspended Dominic's sentence.


http://courtgate.coca.co.clark.nv.us:8490/DistrictCourt/asp/SearchPartyOptions.asp (Type in Rizzolo, Dominic)

After she rendered her "sentence," Judge Glass in open court and without being asked on the record to do so, volunteered to Tony Sgro that she would lower Dominic's felony conviction to a gross misdemeanor in one year if he stayed out of trouble.

Judge Glass then granted Sgro's request that Dominic be allowed to relocate to Florida to serve out his sentence. Sgro stated that Dominic was promised a job with Paramount Hospitality, a time share and resort company founded by Marco A. Manzie (a close friend of Rick Rizzolo).

Nine months after Dominic began serving his five year suspended Florida sentence, Sgro filed a Motion asking Glass to remove Dominic's community service requirement.

On September 15, 2009, with Dominic absent from the courtroom, she dutifully obliged, and waived his five year community service.


http://courtgate.coca.co.clark.nv.us:8490/DistrictCourt/asp/SearchPartyOptions.asp (Type in Rizzolo, Dominic)

But that's not all that happened after Dominic moved to the "Sunshine State."  In the "Offense" block of his Florida Department of Corrections record (below), his offense was mysteriously lessened from "Battery With Use Of A Deadly Weapon," to "AGG. ASSLT-W/WPN NO INTENT TO K," meaning Aggravated Assault With Weapon - No Intent to Kill."


http://www.dc.state.fl.us/ActiveOffenders/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=480464906( (Type in Rizzolo, Dominic)

"NO INTENT TO KILL?" Since when does stabbing a man in the upper abdomen with a switch blade knife indicate less than lethal intent?

And, how did "Battery With Use Of A Deadly Weapon" become "Aggravated Assault With Weapon - No Intent To Kill," a much less serious charge?

When contacted by INSIDE VEGAS, Florida probation authorities refused to comment on the mysterious new wording. Their silence begs the question; did someone at the Florida Department of Corrections have ties to Rick Rizzolo, or possibly Marco A. Manzie?

"Violent crimes are on the rise in most cities across the nation. People convicted of violent crimes have their prison sentences impacted by the harm done to their victims." "Any person who uses a... deadly weapon... in the commission of a crime shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a term equal to and in addition to the term of imprisonment prescribed by statute for the crime."

The above statement was taken directly from the website of Judge Glass' husband, criminal defense attorney Steve Wolfson (shown on right shaking hands with his mentor Mayor Goodman). Evidently, the judge does not pay attention to her husband's words!

As an example of the couple's difference of opinion regarding criminal punishment, on June 17, 2010, Judge Glass issued the following ORDERS granting Dominic a reduction in charges from felony to gross misdemeanor, and terminating his probation three and one half years early:


http://courtgate.coca.co.clark.nv.us:8490/DistrictCourt/asp/SearchPartyOptions.asp (Type in Rizzolo, Dominic)

Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass, along with her husband, have greater political aspirations. He wants to be our next Mayor, and she has her sights set on a seat on the Nevada Supreme Court.

However, before Judge Glass files for higher office, she should carefully review the following CANON and RULE  from the Nevada Code of Judicial Conduct:

CANON 1    A judge shall uphold and promote the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary and shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.

RULE 1.2  Promoting Confidence in the Judiciary: A judge shall act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary and shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.

And based on the actions of Judge Jackie Glass and DA David Roger, few will be surprised if getting away with attempted murder is the last of Dominic Rizzolo's crimes.
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MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.americanmafia.com/inside_vegas/1-12-09_Inside_Vegas.html
http://www.americanmafia.com/inside_vegas/2-2-09_Inside_Vegas.html
http://www.americanmafia.com/Inside_Vegas/9-21-09_Inside_Vegas.html
 



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