Man Sentenced to over 44 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robberies
Las Vegas, Nev. – The man who committed eight violent robberies in Las Vegas during a six-day crime spree in March, was sentenced today to 44.5 years in prison, announced Greg Brower, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.
Enrique Hurtado, 35, of Las Vegas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson. Following a three-day jury trial in August, Hurtado was convicted of Armed Bank Robbery, Bank Robbery, Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, Interference With Commerce by Armed Robbery, Interference With Commerce by Robbery, Interference With Commerce by Attempted Robbery, and Deported Alien Found Unlawfully in the United States.
"The message of this case should be clear: anyone who uses a gun to commit a crime will be prosecuted and will face a lengthy term in federal prison," said U.S. Attorney Brower. "Prosecuting violent criminals continues to be a priority for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nevada."
Between March 12 and March 17, 2008, in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, Hurtado robbed a Bank of America, the Opera House Casino, a CVS Pharmacy, two 7-11 stores, a Sinclair Gas Station, an EZ Stop gas station, and a Nevada Federal Credit Union. During the robbery of the casino, Hurtado fired his gun at the cage cashier when the cashier attempted to flee to another room. The bullet missed the cashier and struck a filing cabinet. During most of the other robberies, Hurtado threatened to shoot or injure patrons or cashiers, and in one instance struck a cashier in the head with brass knuckles.
Following the last robbery of the Nevada Federal Credit Union, Hurtado fled the scene in a white Cadillac and led law enforcement officers on a high speed pursuit, which ended with Hurtado crashing the vehicle. Hurtado was arrested and transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries suffered in the vehicle crash.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department, and was prosecuted by United States Attorney Greg Brower.
