Nearly a decade ago a woman stole almost $2.95 million from a casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Now, after hiding out in the Netherlands the woman was caught and sentenced to five years in federal prison.
Heather Tallchief, 34, worked as a driver for an armored car company in 1993 when she decided one day to drive off with the money. Thursday Tallchief accepted responsibility for the robbery. She told the judge that she wanted to made amends for an armored car heist at the Circus Circus casino hotel.
Tallchief has sold her rights to the story to a Hollywood company, and promises to use the money received in the deal to reimburse Loomis Armor Inc.
The main drive behind this sudden change of heart is Tallchief’s 11 year old son living in Amsterdam. Tallchief wants her son to have an identity and future.
“If I have a life’s achievement, that kid’s it,” said Tallchief’s.
Tallchief has received widespread attention since her surrender in September, when she pleaded guilty to bank and credit union embezzlement and passport fraud.
United States District Court Judge Philip Pro listened to testimony claiming that Tallchief was brainwashed by then-boyfriend Roberto Solis into committing the crime.
“But I see this case really, painfully, for what it is,” the judge said when he sentenced Tallchief to the maximum 63 month sentence that was in effect when the actual robbery took place.
“There are consequences for our conduct,” said Pro. “Perhaps that will serve more than entertainment value. Perhaps it will be instructive to other.”
Tallchief could be out of prison by 2009 due to good behavior and time already served, said Tallchief’s lawyer Robert Axelrod.
“We’re not going to appeal,” Axelrod said. “She was willing to accept the sentence the judge handed down. This was the sentence.
The judge allowed Tallchief to serve our her sentence at a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut. Tallchief’s family lives in Buffalo, New York, and hopefully Tallchief’s son will be given US citizenship to go and live near his mother with their New York relatives.
In a video viewed at Tallchief’s trial the judge was able to see testimony about her character. Perhaps the most heart warming testimony was given by Tallchief’s son Dylan.
“I hope I can see mommy soon,” he said on the video.