LAS VEGAS, NV—A man who was part of a crew that robbed an armored vehicle security guard outside a Las Vegas casino in December 2009, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $36,320 in restitution, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden for the District of Nevada.

Arquarius Robertson, 31, of Las Vegas, was sentenced on Tuesday, June 30, by U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. Robertson pleaded guilty in March to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Two co-defendants, Williams Morrow and Cortaz Robertson, also pleaded guilty and are scheduled for sentencing in July.

“Congress created strong federal penalties for persons convicted of using a firearm to commit a robbery,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden. “We work with our local law enforcement partners on a regular basis to review these violent crimes, and have made it a top priority to use federal laws to prosecute these violent criminals when possible.”

According to the plea agreement, on Dec. 14, 2009, at about 8:45 a.m., Robertson and his co-conspirators stole approximately $36,320 from an armored security guard who had just exited the Las Vegas casino with money and checks from the casino’s cashier cage and was headed toward an armored vehicle. Robertson, who was brandishing a firearm and was disguised in make-up, a wig, a fake belly, gloves, and sunglasses, approached the security guard and ordered the guard to turn over the money. Another co-conspirator, who was also carrying a firearm and wearing a disguise, arrived on the scene in a stolen getaway vehicle and was behind Robertson as he received the money. Robertson fired a warning shot from his firearm as he got into the getaway vehicle with the co-conspirator and drove off. Other co-conspirators acted as look-outs during the robbery. The conspirators exchanged vehicles at an abandoned house about one-half mile away and met up later to divide up the money.

This case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, as part of the Safe Streets Task Force and Project Safe Neighborhoods program. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas D. Dickinson, Cristina D. Silva, and Lisa Cartier-Giroux.