4th suspected member of robbery crew nabbed

Keith Paul

Monday, June 18, 2001 | 11:12 a.m.

The fourth suspected member of a violent robbery crew linked to several casino robberies and a double-homicide in an armored car holdup was arrested this morning, Metro Police said.

Pedro Rafael Duarte, the suspected ring leader's brother-in-law, is accused in a criminal complaint of driving the getaway car in the botched armored car robbery at the Desert Inn hotel-casino in June 1999 where two guards were shot.

Duarte was arrested today about 9 a.m. by Metro Police, Lt. John Alamshaw of Metro's robbery unit said.

He was charged with conspiracy, attempted robbery, attempted murder and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Duarte is accused of participating in one of several robberies the crew, allegedly headed by Jose Vigoa, is charged with pulling off.

Vigoa was arrested last summer along with Oscar Sanchez. Luis Suarez, another suspected member of the robbery gang, was arrested months later. All three are accused of several hotel-casino robberies, armored car robberies and the killing of two armored car guards in Henderson in March 2000.

Sanchez talked with police, admitting his role in the Henderson robbery and murders. He also implicated Vigoa and Suarez in that crime. Sanchez, 23, committed suicide in his Clark County jail cell Oct. 7.

Metro Police had been investigating Duarte for some time, but did not arrest him until today. Alamshaw said Duarte was not suspected in any of the robberies other than the Desert Inn.