Three Armed Robbers Sentenced In Federal Court

            ALICIA A.G. LIMTIACO, United States Attorney for Guam, announced that  DWAYNE J. SAN NICOLAS, BALBINO K. LEON GUERRERO and DEDRICK J. AGUON, were sentenced today by Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood in the District Court of Guam. 

            DWAYNE J. SAN NICOLAS was sentenced to serve 138 months incarceration.  DEDRICK J. AGUON was sentenced to serve 117 months incarceration.  BALBINO K. LEON GUERRERO was sentenced to serve 91 months incarceration.  Each defendant was placed on a five-year term of supervised release, was ordered to perform community service, and ordered to pay $856.49 in restitution to New Nana’s Market.

            All three defendants pleaded guilty on July 2012 to Hobbs Act Robbery in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a), and to the Discharging or Brandishing of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(a). 

            The defendants admitted to the following facts.  On September 8, 2011, AGUON provided LEON GUERRERO and SAN NICOLAS with a .22 caliber firearm and a .9 mm Beretta.  AGUON then drove SAN NICOLAS and LEON GUERRERO to New Nana’s Mart in Agana Heights.   LEON GUERRERO and SAN NICOLAS entered New Nana’s Mart and pointed the firearms directly at the cashier and demanded money.  SAN NICOLAS chambered a round and fired off a shot shattering a glass door on a cooler.  The cashier handed over approximately $700 in cash to LEON GUERRERO and SAN NICOLAS.     The men then fled New Nana’s Mart, stopping only to grab a 12-pack of beer.  AGUON acted as the getaway driver.   The robbery was captured on video surveillance. 

            U.S. Attorney Limtiaco states, “The use of firearms to commit violent crimes place innocent civilians and the community at great risk of harm.  People who use firearms to commit crimes of violence will face aggressive prosecution and will receive hard time.” 

            U.S. Attorney Limtiaco noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) Initiative, a nationwide commitment to aggressively prosecute defendants who engage in violent crime, drug distribution and gang involvement.  

            U.S. Attorney Limtiaco commended the investigative efforts of the Guam Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agents and Task Force Officers.