Attorney General Masto Announces Guilty Plea and Sentencing of Co-Defendants In Strip Shooter Case


October 10, 2014

Las Vegas, NV – Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced that Re’Ann Atkinson (also known as Re’Ann Gadson), 33, of Las Vegas was sentenced on Tuesday for bribing a public officer in the prison cell phone smuggling case involving Ammar Harris.  Co-defendant Derrick McKnight, 36, of Las Vegas, formally entered a plea of guilty in arraignment court for his role in the scheme on Wednesday.

“Bribing a public officer and smuggling a cell phone are serious offenses that may compromise the security of those in and out of prison,” said Masto.

Eighth Judicial District Court Judge Douglas Herndon sentenced Atkinson to 18 to 48 months in the Nevada Department of Corrections on two counts of bribery of a public officer, a category “C” felony. 

Atkinson was part of a broad scheme in which inmate Harris sought to have cellular phones brought into the prison for his use. Atkinson’s role was to purchase the phones at Walmart and make arrangements with other co-defendants to have them brought in along with food and drink items. Atkinson delivered chicken wings and vodka to an officer to pass off the contraband. 

The sentence will run consecutively due to her extensive felony record. Atkinson was on probation in two other cases at the time she participated in the phone smuggling scheme.  Atkinson will remain at the Clark County Detention Center where she was already being held for an unrelated drug charge until she completes that sentence, at which time she will be transferred to the Nevada Department of Corrections where she will begin her sentence in this case.

McKnight will be sentenced on Dec. 8, 2014 by Eighth Judicial District Court Judge Kathleen Delaney for bribery of public officer.  He is currently serving a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for the 2006 murder of former professional basketball player Kenneth Hardwick.

To read the criminal complaint for Atkinson, click here. To read the criminal complaint for McKnight, click here.

These cases are being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Karen A. Whelan.

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