Chavez Montano Guilty in Route 66 Casino Robbery

ALBUQUERQUE – A stark plea entered by Lorenzo Chavez, 25, and James Montano, Jr., 23, on Monday in federal court marked the end of a chapter in the saga of the Route 66 Casino Xpress heist. The duo faced charges for robbing the Laguna Pueblo establishment at gunpoint on December 13, 2015.

Chavez, who also faces drug trafficking and firearms charges in a separate incident, and Montano, are now both awaiting sentencing after admitting their roles in the high-profile armed robbery. According to court documents, Sara Ruiz, 39, from Grants, N.M., was initially charged alongside them but has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial.

The trio’s arrests came after an intensive investigation by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Pueblo of Laguna Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elaine Y. Ramirez and Kristopher N. Houghton are handling the prosecution.

In a separate case, Chavez alone faces serious charges related to drug trafficking and another armed robbery at an Allsups convenience store in Albuquerque. On December 19, 2015, he reportedly possessed almost 61 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, while a subsequent incident on December 29, 2015, saw him rob the convenience store at gunpoint.

Both Chavez and Montano are currently detained ahead of sentencing hearings. Under his plea agreement, Chavez could be sentenced to between 120 and 180 months in prison. Montano’s sentence is capped at a maximum of 20 years. Ruiz’s trial is set for March 20, 2017.

The investigations into these crimes were conducted by the Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Mysliwiec and Letitia Carroll Simms are prosecuting the Allsups convenience store case.