LAS VEGAS (AP) — The former longtime chief executive of Las Vegas' publicly funded tourism authority avoided felony charges by pleading no contest to a misdemeanor and paying a $1,000 fine.
Rossi Ralenkotter ended his involvement Monday in a case alleging agency misuse of tens of thousands of dollars in airline travel gift cards. His attorney says the 73-year-old Ralenkotter was treated harshly by prosecutors despite cooperating and agreeing to pay about $24,000 in ethics fines.
District Attorney Steve Wolfson called the plea agreement fairly typical and noted that Ralenkotter paid another $18,000 in restitution to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
