Federal jury convicts man of eight Las Vegas robberies

By Mary Manning

Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008 | 12:49 p.m.

A federal jury has convicted a man who committed eight robberies in Las Vegas during a six-day crime spree in March on federal bank robbery and firearm charges, U.S. Attorney Greg Brower of Nevada said.

Following a three-day trial, the jury found 34-year-old Enrique Hurtado of Las Vegas guilty Wednesday of one count of armed bank robbery, one count of bank robbery, two counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime, one count of interfering with commerce by armed robbery, four counts of interfering with commerce by robbery, and one count of interfering with commerce by attempted robbery.

During the trial, Hurtado also pleaded guilty to one count of deported alien found unlawfully in the United States. He had been deported from the United States about Jan. 4, 2007 and July 9, 2007.

It was proven to the jury that Hurtado committed the following crimes this year:

-- On March 12, Hurtado used a gun to rob the Bank of America at 410 E. Silverado Ranch in Las Vegas;

-- On March 15, Hurtado used a gun to rob the cage cashier at the Opera House Casino at 2542 Las Vegas Blvd., in North Las Vegas. During the robbery, Hurtado fired a gun at the cage cashier when the cashier tried to flee to another room. The bullet missed the cashier and struck a filing cabinet;

-- On March 16, about 9 p.m., Hurtado used force, violence and fear, authorities said, to rob cashiers at the CVS Pharmacy at 5681 Boulder Highway in Las Vegas. Hurtado demanded money from the cash register and the safe;

-- On March 16, about 9:50 p.m., Hurtado used force, violence and fear to rob the cashiers at a 7-Eleven store at 4581 E. Charleston Blvd. in Las Vegas. Hurtado demanded money from the cash register, indicated he had a gun and threatened to shoot patrons if they tried to leave the store;

-- On March 17, about 4:13 a.m., Hurtado robbed a cashier at the Sinclair Gas Station at 4171 Boulder Highway in Las Vegas. Hurtado threatened to "shank" the cashier if she did not comply with his demands;

-- On March 17, Hurtado robbed the cashiers at the EZ Stop gas station at 3414 E. Sahara Ave. Hurtado threatened the cashiers by displaying brass knuckles he wore on his hand in a threatening manner;

-- On March 17, about 8:15 a.m., Hurtado tried to rob a cashier at the 7-Eleven store at 225 N. Lamb Blvd. He demanded money from the cash register, displayed brass knuckles he was wearing in a threatening manner and struck the cashier in the head with his fist;

-- On March 17, about 10:34 a.m., Hurtado robbed the Nevada Federal Credit Union at 1264 S. Nellis Blvd. After the robbery, Hurtado fled in a white Cadillac and led police officers on a high speed chase that ended when he crashed his car.

Hurtado was arrested on March 17 and taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries suffered in the car crash.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 19 before Judge Kent J. Dawson.

Hurtado faces up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the armed robbery charge; up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each interference with commerce by robbery charge; up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the bank robbery charge; a minimum of seven years in prison to run consecutively with any other charges, on the first use of a firearm charge; a minimum of 25 years in prison, to run consecutively with any other charges on the second use of a firearm charge; and up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the immigration charge.