The infamous Sin City has had a long history with more than simple sin. Crime has been a big part of the legacy of the Nevada gambling town since its origins. Founded in 1905, Las Vegas grew with the start of the building of Hoover Dam in 1930. Nevada had followed the pattern of the other western states and outlawed gambling in 1910, however, Las Vegas had a growing need to entertain the influx of male dam workers.

Illegal casinos popped up, complete with showgirls, financed by organized crime leaders, and the state lawmakers took notice. They made the famous decision to legalize gambling in the city in 1931. Organized crime still ran rampant within the city, with gangsters opening hotels and casinos throughout town. The astute criminals realized their largely uncontrolled ventures in Las Vegas could bankroll their other activities throughout the country.

The FBI established an office in Las Vegas in 1944, which soon became one of its largest. The 1960s saw an increase in their combat with mobsters in Sin City.  The Las Vegas division of the FBI has been responsible for the capture of quite a few criminals from the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives listing. They have also worked on kidnapping, drug trafficking, and robbery cases.

Three of the biggest crimes committed in Las Vegas, or tied to Sin City were:

• Death of Bugsy Siegel in 1946; ordered by mob bosses to cancel his ownership of the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas
• Valentine’s Day Raid in 1979, FBI raids the Tropicana Hotel and removes it from Mafia control
• Tupac Shakur murder in 1996, rap star murdered on the way to a club, murder never solved but attributed to rapper coastal rivalry

2011 Stats and Facts

Today, Las Vegas still ranks highly among the most crime filled cities in the United States. According to the Citydata.com website, in 2011 in Las Vegas, there were:

• 82 murders
• 651 rapes
• 3,493 robberies
• 6,587 assaults
• 12,662 burglaries
• 21,997 thefts

Las Vegas Crime Rate vs. National Averages

These crime occurrences placed the crime rate in Las Vegas in 2011 at 310.7, higher than the national average for that year of 304.8.

If you live in Las Vegas, and are charged with a crime, you will need a criminal defense lawyer who is passionate in defending your legal rights. I am a former Nevada prosecutor who fights relentlessly to defend the legal rights of  clients who trust me to defend them. If you have legal questions regarding a criminal offense, please call me 24/7 at for a free initial consultant and review of your case. Attorney Benjamin Nadig.

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