Man Who Committed Seven Armed Robberies in Henderson Last Year Sentenced to Almost 15 Years in Federal Prison
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 04, 2011 |
LAS VEGAS—A man who robbed two banks, two restaurants, a gas station, a video store, and a Starbucks Coffee store in Henderson last year, was sentenced today to almost 15 years in federal prison for his guilty pleas to armed bank robbery and firearm offenses, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.
Austin Joshua Peterson, 31, of Henderson, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to 177 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Peterson pled guilty on September 27, 2010, to two counts of armed bank robbery, five counts of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of possessing a stolen firearm.
Peterson admitted that he committed the following six robberies and one attempted robbery between April 13 and May 10, 2010. In all of the robberies, Peterson pointed firearms at the faces of the employees, threatened them, and demanded money. Peterson was arrested on May 10, 2010, after he robbed a bank and led officers on a high speed vehicle chase. When Peterson was apprehended, law enforcement officers found on his person a stolen semi-automatic handgun and $2,995 in cash.
On April 13, 2010, Peterson robbed the U.S. Bank located inside of Smith’s grocery store at 1000 N. Green Valley Parkway in Henderson;
On April 17, 2010, Peterson robbed the Chili’s Restaurant at 10080 South Eastern Avenue in Henderson;
On April 27, 2010, Peterson robbed the Starbucks Coffee store at 10604 South Eastern Avenue in Henderson;
On May 1, 2010, Peterson robbed the Video HQ store at 10520 South Eastern Avenue in Henderson;
On May 3, 2010, Peterson robbed the Terrible’s Gas Station at 4036 East Sunset Road in Henderson;
On May 10, 2010, Peterson attempted to rob the Outback Steakhouse at 4423 East Sunset Road in Henderson;
And on May 10, 2010, Peterson robbed the U.S. Bank at 10616 S. Eastern Avenue in Henderson.
On May 10, 2010, after Peterson was apprehended, a search warrant was executed at Peterson’s residence and law enforcement officers recovered a stolen Kel-Tec P-11 semi-automatic handgun.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Henderson Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Phillip N. Smith, Jr.