Treasure Coast Robbers That Targeted Gas Stations And Hotels Indicted

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office, Julie Leon, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Tampa/Orlando Field Office, Deryl Loar, Sheriff, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Wayne Ivey, Sheriff, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, John A. Bolduc, Chief, Port St. Lucie Police Department, and Frank J. Kitzerow, Chief, Jupiter Police Department, announce that defendants Yubran Alvarez Vasquez, 21, of Bluffton, South Carolina, and Matthew Emmanuel Vasquez, 23, of Savannah, Georgia, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Fort Pierce, on one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a), four counts of armed robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a), and four counts of possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(ii & iii).

The defendants are alleged to have targeted gas stations and hotels just off exits on I-95 from Melbourne to Jupiter. In one robbery spree on February 14-15, 2013, the defendants are alleged to have robbed at gunpoint two gas stations and two hotels. The defendants brandished guns in all of the robberies and during the robbery of the Holiday Inn Express in Vero Beach, a firearm was discharged. The defendants wore gloves and masks and changed hotels frequently in an attempt to avoid detection.

The defendants fled Florida with the stolen property, and due to a multi-agency effort, the defendants were apprehended. If convicted, each defendant faces up to life in prison.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ATF, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Port St. Lucie Police Department, and the Jupiter Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell R. Killinger.

An indictment is only an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.