Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Significant jail time for robbers

For more than six months in 1993, a trio of bandits rampaged across the Las Vegas Valley -- almost flaunting their success and seeming invincibility to law enforcement.

Almost.

When the robbery spree ended with their arrests just before Christmas 1993, the three desperados faced 71 felony and gross misdemeanor charges. The penalties could have put them behind bars through the next millennium.

One by one, they dealt their cases for fractions -- albeit significant fractions -- of the charges. Michael Lambert went to prison for a 70-year stint, while Narviez Vigil Alexander drew a 210-year sentence.

But District Judge Stephen Huffaker saved the best for last.

On Thursday, he smacked the last of the bandits, Michael Maurice Fultz, with a sentence of 270 years in prison.

He won't be eligible for parole for more than 50 years.

The three, who are in their early 20s, admitted their roles in the holdup spree that sometimes paid repeat visits to some victims as the bandits crisscrossed Southern Nevada between May and December 1993.

There were robberies of bars, restaurants, Albertson's supermarkets and a variety of other businesses and the homes of bar owners.

The home of Veronica and Gilbert Hanks, the owners of Mug Shots West bar, was raided twice -- once in May 1993 to loot the safe and again in August 1993 when they held the Hanks' daughter hostage while forcing Veronica Hanks to go to the bar and bring back money.

The family left town for a month after that.

Sometimes the bandits would perpetrate more than one holdup on the same day, such as on Oct. 15, 1993, when an Albertson's at 4790 E. Flamingo Road was robbed, followed by a second Albertson's at 8570 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

Five days later, a third Albertson's at 1255 S. Lamb Blvd. was hit by the crooks.

Fultz pleaded guilty in the plea bargain to one count of kidnapping and four counts of robbery, all with the use of a deadly weapon, which doubles any penalties.

The kidnapping charge requires that he serve at least 10 years behind bars before being eligible for release. The robbery charges, with the weapon enhancements, carry 30-year sentences.

The robbery gang finally was dismantled after Alexander and another man were captured during a holdup at Cousins Restaurant, 1617 S. Decatur Blvd., on Dec. 7, 1993.

A quick-thinking employee managed to dial 911 as the robbery began and left the phone off the hook so Metro operators could listen to and record the crime.

Alexander was captured by officers after a short chase and his apprehension led to Fultz and Lambert.

The second robber at Cousins was not part of the indictment.

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