Rather than to allow the Nevada Secretary of States' Security Division to arrest her, Elizabeth DeMaria dove off her suite's 35th floor balcony of the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. DeMaria, aka Lisa Victoria, was about to be arrested for failure to appear at May 10th bond check-in hearing.  What is baffling security fraud attorneys is that she hadn't even been sentenced yet.  Why did she do this now? 

Elizabeth was out of jail on bond for theft and fraud charges related to her connections to The Vegas Channel, a local media company.  Miss DeMaria allegedly defrauded and stole $200,000 from nine victims who believed they were investing in the media company.  Records show the money was deposited into her account for Luxury Lifestyles Las Vegas rather than going to The Vegas Channel. Records further showed Miss DeMaria had withdrawn $125,000 for personal use.

When the Security Division officers arrived at the MGM Grand, they proceeded to the 35th floor suite of Miss DeMaria.  Upon knocking and announcing themselves, they heard a woman's voice, but no one came to the door.  As they burst through the door into the suite, Elizabeth DeMaria threw her laptop computer over the balcony railing and then dove over the side plunging 35 stories to her death.  Las Vegas police were called and responded immediately.

A search of Elizabeth DeMaria's suite produced a brooch and a white stone ring.  The laptop was recovered and is being inspected by the Las Vegas evidence technicians for signs of illegal and fraudulent activities and/or materials.  A passport in the name of Lisa Victoria, which was the name she used to check in with, was found amidst the deceased's belongings at the MGM suite.  She had been a guest at the MGM since May 10th, the day she failed to appear at her scheduled court date.

Various papers and documents were found scattered across the bed.  According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, those documents all pertained to Doug Gillespie, Clark County Sheriff and Ross Miller, Nevada Secretary of State.  Exactly what type of documents and what they referred to has not been released.

Details concerning Miss DeMaria's final arrangements have not been released at this time.  No information is available on what Elizabeth DeMaria's demise means for the nine victims seeking justice and to recover their investments.

Recently the FBI conducted a sweep aimed at child prostitution in fifty-seven cities. Operation Cross Country 6 arrested one-hundred and four alleged pimps, and recused seventy-nine children. The sting involved over two-thousand and five-hundred local, state, and federal officers, the ages of the children rescued was from thirteen to seventeen. Predators stalk their victims physically and psychologically. Once they gain control of their victims, the children have to depend on their pimps for survival. Cut off from the outside world, their pimps have more and more control of the children, driving them deeper into the web of crime.
        We do not like to think child prostitution is a problem in the United States, maybe Thailand or occasionally in the big cities, like New York or Los Angles.  In 2003, the FBI started Operation Cross Country to counter act the spread of child prostitution. These raids continue to drive the point home that child prostitution is an All-American problem.
        Predators often kidnapped their victims from various places. Befriending a child online is another way they lure children into their trap. The FBI constantly fights against exploitation of children, but they cannot do it alone. Parents can help the fight by taking an interest in their children’s activities. The FBI offers these tips on their website. Monitor you children's online activities. If they start to receive gifts from someone you do not know, turn the computer monitor off when you enter their room, or becomes withdrawn from the family, might have a problem.
       The first step in confronting the problem is to have a talk with your child to explain the dangers online and possible consequences. If the problem persists, talk to your local law enforcement officers. It is always better to be safe, than sorry.   Stay involved in your children's lives. Know their friends and their activities. When they go out with friends, have a code word they can use in text or on the phone to tell you they need you to come and get them.
  The various law enforcements agencies do all they can to stop child prostitution, but they need our help. Together we can reduce the number of children, which fall prey to this horrible crime.

Canyon View High School graduates got one final lesson before they said goodbye to their alma mater for their next step in life. As they took a final trip as new alumni of the high school to Disneyland, they were not even on their way before numerous officers of the local police department were on the scene and questioning one of the drivers they had become suspicious of.

Their suspicions of drug use were confirmed when police dogs became involved in the search as well. It did not take them long to find a two different pills confirmed to be illegal narcotics without a prescription and two bags of powder. 30 year old Brandon Gillman soon found himself arrested and placed in custody on charges of Driving Under the Influence and possession charges for the drugs he had on him.

The sad part of all of this is that this was someone that was going to take these students hundreds of miles in this bus. His intent to use the drugs was clear as he had already been using them prior to arriving to pick up the students. It is one thing to take your own life into your hands, and quite another to risk the lives of so many others.

This is actually worth further charges or more severe sentencing in my opinion. These students were not aware of the situation and trusted in the ability of the drivers that they had hired from the company providing the buses. Even though many of these were then technically adults, the possibility of endangering such a large amount of youth at one time needs to be met with serious consequences.

Honestly the main point is not that he was even in possession of the illegal drugs, or that he was using them, as there are likely thousands of cases like this every month in the country. However, the lengthy trip with unknowing and trusting teens in tow that did not have an opportunity to avoid potential calamity is the main offense.

What will happen to Gillman is yet to be seen, but it is a fair reminder that DUI offenses do not specifically pertain to alcohol use and operation of a motor vehicle. Illegal substances and drugs are equal pieces of the equation, and equally punishable by law for those driving under the influence.  For more information about this story, click here.