Over a span of eight days, at least four robberies have occurred in the Wyoming area which police believe involve a man and woman. Two individuals, 28-year-old Codie Ann Vargas-Alegre and 38-year-old Juan Mario Hernandez-Correa, were arrested at their Byron Center Avenue home on July 25 in connection with the Bonnie and Clyde-style hold-ups.
In all, two Dollar General stores, a CVS Pharmacy and Boost Mobile Store were robbed; the series of robberies began on July 11 with the Dollar General Store located at 919 36th St. SW. According to a news article at Mlive.com, Vargas-Alegre would rob the stores using pepper spray and/or a knife, while Hernandez-Correa admitted to driving the getaway car. In two of the robberies, Vargas-Alegre claimed she had a gun, according to store clerks.
July 19th is when the last robbery was reported at the Cash Advance store; in this incident, police say an employee of the store was assaulted when she was pushed into the parking lot by a woman, who escaped with an undisclosed amount of money.
Both suspects were arraigned on four counts of armed robbery on July 26, and remain incarcerated in the Kent County Jail on a $50,000 bond. A probable cause hearing is scheduled in Wyoming District Court for August 7.
Michigan armed robbery lawyers know all too well the punishment individuals face if convicted of this serious crime. Even when a weapon is not actually present but insinuated in order to instill fear or intimidate the victim, a conviction may result in life in prison.
If you or someone you know has been charged with robbery or any theft offense, or are under investigation but have not yet been charged, it is critical that you consult with an aggressive Michigan criminal defense attorney at once. Having a capable lawyer to provide legal guidance and representation can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case.