Man found guilty in string of ‘wig’ robberies

By Gregan Wingert

Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011 | 9:54 p.m.

A Las Vegas man has been convicted of nine armed robberies in 2010 in which one of the culprits would sometimes don a wig, prosecutors said.

Jason Wiley, 28, was found guilty Tuesday of robbing Las Vegas businesses, including a Roberto’s Taco Shop and Emerald Suites Hotel, from Aug. 21-23, 2010, according to a news release from Daniel G. Bogden, U.S. attorney for the district of Nevada.

After a six-day trial, a federal jury convicted Wiley of one count of conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce, nine counts of interference with commerce by armed robbery and 10 counts of using a firearm, officials said.

Christopher DiBlasio, a co-defendant, pleaded guilty prior to Wiley’s trial to 10 counts of armed robbery and a firearm charge, the news release said.

Metro Police and the FBI, which investigated the crimes, referred to the string of robberies as the “wig” holdups because in many cases, at least one robber wore a wig, the release said.

A firearm was carried during each robbery and was fired during two, officials said.

Money and in some cases, food and alcohol, were taken during the robberies, officials said.

Wiley’s sentencing is scheduled for March 2. He faces up to 200 years in prison for robbery and conspiracy, a mandatory minimum of at least 235 years for the gun convictions and up to $5 million in fines, officials said.