Police impersonator Mark Picozzi arrested in Las Vegas

Mark Picozzi (Photo: LVMPD)

Police impersonator Mark Picozzi arrested in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — A police impersonator arrested in Las Vegas allegedly used criminal records of the escort that the targeted to coerce them to engage in sex acts.

Mark Picozzi, 48,  was arrested after he sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel room at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas Resort.

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He apparently targeted the woman by using online public records to find out that she had been arrested for prostitution and had an outstanding warrant.

Picozzi, who has a criminal record in New York and New Jersey, was arrested Jan. 30.

The unidentified woman, an escort, told police of her encounter with Picozzi just before she was arrested on an unrelated charge.

She was likely surprised at the impending arrest since the Picozzi has led her to believe that she would not be arrested.

She told officers that the agency she worked for had arranged for her to meet a client in his hotel room at The Cosmopolitan.

She says that she went to the hotel room and Picozzi told her that he needed to obtain money to pay her.

Then, he told her that he was a vice officer and that he knew that she had an outstanding warrant out for her arrest.

He said that if she engaged in sex acts that he would make sure that she would not go to jail and she complied.

After their sexual encounter, they each went their separate ways.

Police investigated the woman’s claims and obtained records from the escort agency which led them to Picozzi.

Mark Picozzi was charged with sexual assault, impersonating a police officer, oppression under color of office and providing false information to a police officer.

Authorities believe there are more victims and are asking anyone else who may have fallen victim to Picozzi to contact the Las Vegas Metro Police sexual assault division at  702-828-3421.

Read our tips on protecting yourself from falling victim to a police impersonator.

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