Pair plead guilty in fraud case

Two Las Vegas men accused of bribing an insurance adjuster after a February restaurant fire have pleaded guilty to one of the 24 charges they faced.

Anthony Schwabb and John D'Amico Sr. could get up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when they are sentenced by U.S. District Judge Johnnie Rawlinson Jan. 7.

The men, who are represented by defense attorney Arnold Weinstock, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.

Schwabb, 52, and D'Amico, 62, admitted offering a bribe to a Westport Insurance Corp. adjuster so he would expedite an insurance claim following a February fire at Anthony's Restaurant, 1550 E. Tropicana Ave.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Parrella told Rawlinson the claim had also been fraudulently inflated. When pressed by the judge for more details, the men conceded they did, in fact, know the claim had been falsely inflated.

The fire caused between $12,000 and $16,000 in damage, but according to the men's indictment, they offered the unnamed adjuster $3,500 if he would authorize a $35,000 payment.

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