A “trick-roll” is where a hooker or a pimp sets up and robs a customer (the “john”). Trick-rolling is a common practice in the Las Vegas prostitution scene.
Penalties for stealing in Nevada can be very steep. In addition, employers are hesitant to hire anybody with a criminal conviction on their background check.
In this article, our Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys discuss the following topics:
1. What is trick-rolling?
Trick-rolling is slang for when a prostitute allegedly steals money from a “john.” The classic trick-roll scenario in Nevada occurs in hotel rooms while the alleged customer is:
- sleeping,
- taking a shower, or
- intoxicated from alcohol or drugs.
If the theft transpires without the prostitute using force or violence, it is considered larceny from a person. Otherwise, the trick-roll qualifies as robbery.1
Example: A female prostitute solicits John in the Green Valley Ranch, and they go up to a room together. Once inside, she pushes John against the wall, takes his wallet, and leaves. If caught, the prostitute may be booked at the Henderson NV Jail for robbery because she used force to take the wallet.
In other situations, the prostitute may slip the customer a mickey. This usually happens before any sexual activity can take place. Then while the john is unconscious, the prostitute can steal from him and run away before he wakes up.
Note that many trick-rolling crimes go unreported. Often customers do not want to admit to the police that they were with a prostitute because this would be admitting they were breaking the law themselves. Customers also want to avoid having their significant others find out about the situation.
Learn more about Nevada theft crimes.
Trick-rolling is prosecuted as larceny from a person or robbery.
2. Defenses
Here at Las Vegas Defense Group, we have defended literally thousands of people accused of prostitution-related crimes such as trick-rolling. In our experience, the following three defenses have proven very effective with judges, juries, and prosecutors at getting these charges reduced or dismissed.
- You had no criminal intent. Larceny and robbery are “specific intent crimes.” Therefore if we can show that you did not deliberately take the property in question, then you cannot be convicted of theft. For example, perhaps you were just borrowing the property and intended to give it back.
- The property belonged to you. You cannot be convicted of stealing your own property. (However, you may face separate charges such as battery if you used physical violence to get your property back.)
- There was consent. If we can demonstrate that any money that exchanged hands was not stolen and instead was a fee for a sex act, then the trick-rolling theft charges should be dismissed. However, prosecutors would still be able to pursue a case for solicitation of prostitution.
Ultimately, the prosecutor has the burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you stole. As long as the state’s evidence is insufficient to support a theft charge, your case should be dropped.
3. Penalties
Trick-rolling by using force or violence is prosecuted as robbery. This is a category B felony carrying two to 15 years in Nevada State Prison.2
If there was no force or violence, trick-rolling is treated like larceny from a person (“pick-pocketing”). This category C felony carries:
- restitution of the items allegedly stolen, and
- 1 to 5 years in prison, and
- up to $10,000 in fines.3
4. Related Offenses
If you are arrested on suspicion of trick-rolling, you may also face related charges for trespass and/or solicitation of prostitution. These offenses are both punished as misdemeanors with a sentence of:
- up to $1,000 in fines and/or
- up to 6 months in jail.4
Depending on your case, we may be able to negotiate with prosecutors to reduce your theft charge down to trespass. Trespass does not look as bad as larceny or robbery does on a criminal record, and it can usually be sealed after only one year.5
Many trick-rolling instances never get reported.
Additional Resources
If you are a sex worker in need of help, refer to the following:
- National Harm Reduction Coalition – Resource library
- Red Umbrella Fund – Sex worker-led participatory fund to advance the interest of sex workers
- Sex Work Alliance of Nevada (SWAN) – Medical, financial, and mental health resources
- Sex Workers Project – Medical, financial, and mental health resources
- National Human Trafficking Hotline – Immediate help for victims
Legal References
- NRS 295.270. NRS 200.380. See also Ford v. State (2011) . Glegola v. State (1994) .
- NRS 200.380.
- NRS 295.270.
- NRS 207.200. NRS 201.354.
- NRS 179.245.