Five indicted in takeover robbery at Sprint office

Wednesday, June 5, 2002 | 11 a.m.

A federal indictment unsealed Tuesday charges five people in the 1999 takeover-style robbery of a Sprint central office on Spring Mountain Road near Jones Boulevard.

Sofi Darrell Donat, Sean Cory Miller, Harvey B. Reese, Charles Rogers and Larry Sanders are named in the indictment that charges conspiracy, interference with commerce and transportation of stolen goods used in interstate commerce.

If convicted of all three counts, the defendants could face up to 35 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.

The Jan. 3, 1999, robbery appeared to be well planned, Metro Police said. A group of masked robbers forced their way into the building and took only 20 minutes to tie up two workers, assault a third and make off with 244 circuit boards valued at $1.5 million, police said.

The robbers reportedly used stun guns on the three employees. More than 75,000 customers -- from Sunset Road to Oakey Boulevard and Hualapai Way to Interstate 15 -- lost phone service because of the robbery.

Donat is being held in a California prison on an unrelated charge, while Miller was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to face trial July 2. Reese and Rogers were arrested May 29 in Los Angeles and are awaiting an appearance date in Las Vegas later this month.

In December 1999 Eli Handy and Kurt Gassoway were also charged in connection with the theft. Both pleaded guilty.