Crime didn’t pay that well for killer

Tuesday, June 25, 2002 | 11:16 a.m.

The take How much affidavits say Jose Vigoa netted in each of his robberies:

Jose Vigoa didn't live in the lap of luxury after pulling off four casino heists and an armed robbery at a Henderson store that left two men dead.

He didn't even steal enough money to avoid filing bankruptcy, according to a police affidavit in the case.

Vigoa and his co-defendants earned less than $5,000 from a fatal armed robbery of a Ross Dress for Less store and nearly $600,000 from the casino heists, Vigoa said in a signed affidavit filed Monday with his guilty plea agreement.

Vigoa shot Gary Dean Prestidge II seven times in the robbery of the Ross store and shot Prestidge's partner, Richard Sosa, twice, all for $5,000, the affidavit shows. Both men died at the scene.

Vigoa used the money from the robberies to buy a house, two cars and some personal items, he says in his affidavit. His co-defendants, Pedro Duarte and Luis Suarez, who have yet to face trial, allegedly spent their share of the money on similar items. None of the defendants took in more than $30,000 a year including any spousal income, according to the police affidavit.

As part of Vigoa's plea agreement the affidavits cannot be used as evidence against Duarte and Suarez, nor will he testify against them.

Oscar Cisneros, a fourth co-defendant who committed suicide four months after his arrest, served as a front man for many of Vigoa's purchases, the police affidavit says.

The title to Vigoa's home on Sandy Slate Way and the new 1999 Nissan Pathfinder he bought were both originally placed in Cisneros' name and then transferred to Vigoa's wife, Luisa, the affidavit says. The 1992 red Chevrolet Silverado pickup Vigoa bought after one of the robberies was placed in his wife's name.

The Vigoa family, however, neglected to list the home or the Nissan as assets when they filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in January 1999. Police believe Vigoa kept a trailer as a front for his more suburban lifestyle. More than $100,000 in cash was found at the Sandy Slate residence following Vigoa's arrest, the police affidavit says.

Vigoa pleaded guilty Monday to all 46 counts against him, including first-degree murder, attempted murder and armed robbery, to save himself from the death penalty, defense lawyers said.

He will face life without parole when sentenced Aug. 12.

In addition to the armed robberies, police believe Vigoa or his co-defendants stole several cars used in the robberies as getaway cars and stole license plates to mask their own vehicles.

On at least two occasions, the men mistakenly stole vehicles by jumping into the wrong getaway car. Vigoa said in his affidavit that they hot-wired the cars to escape and only later realized why they didn't have the right keys.