Suspects in Bellagio armed robbery plead innocent

Lisa Snedeker

Monday, July 24, 2000 | 4:36 a.m.

Two men suspected in a series of daring casino heists pleaded innocent Monday to charges stemming from the June armed robbery of the Bellagio megaresort.

Oscar Cisneros Sanchez and Jose Manuel Vigoa face trial starting Nov. 6 on 14 charges, including robbery, attempted murder and kidnapping.

Vigoa faces three additional charges for failing to stop for a police officer, child endangerment and possession of a firearm by an ex-felon.

The men are accused of jumping over a counter into a cash "cage" at the Las Vegas Strip resort and taking about $160,000 in money and casino chips.

The robbers, filmed by security cameras, fired shots as guards as they fled.

Sanchez, 23, and Vigoa, 41, are being held without bail in the Clark County jail. A third suspect remains at large

Defense attorneys said they may need more time to prepare because about 50 witnesses may testify during the trial. About 20 witnesses testified during a preliminary hearing earlier this month.

Authorities also have linked Sanchez and Vigoa to an armored truck robbery in Henderson in which two security guards were shot to death.

Prosecutors say they are letting Henderson Police take their time investigating the March 3 incident so they can develop a strong case.

Deputy Clark County District Attorney Frank Coumou said Monday he's still waiting for the case to reach his office. Once that happens, he'll either charge the pair and go through a preliminary hearing or send the case to a grand jury.

"A grand jury is faster," he said.

DNA tests reportedly show that blood found in a getaway vehicle used in the Henderson shooting matches that of Sanchez, a Mexican native.

The pair also is suspected in armored truck robberies at the MGM Grand, New York-New York, Mandalay Bay and Desert Inn hotel-casinos.

Prosecutors said they need more evidence in the other holdups to press charges - but Coumou added, "It is a more-than-likely possibility that additional charges will be filed down the pike."

Vigoa, a native of Cuba, is on probation for a 1991 conviction for cocaine trafficking and assaulting federal officers.