Montego Bay bandit Tony Vera is once again back on the lam after failing to appear for sentencing in Elko District Court Monday.
“I don’t think anyone was really surprised he did not show up,” said Vera’s court appointed defense attorney Gary Woodbury. “Frankly I was surprised when he got such a low bail after showing that he was a flight risk.”
Vera was set to be sentenced on January 13 in plea bargain arranged by Woodbury and Elko County District Attorney Mark Torvinen. According to Woodbury, Vera, would have pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and would have a received a six to ten year sentence.
Vera had been looking a life in prison sentence for being an habitual criminal.
Vera was captured at his girl friend’s house near Tucson, Arizona on March 13 one month after he along with Elbert Woodson allegedly robbed the Montego Bay Casino.
While on the run, Vera gave an exclusive interview to the High Desert Advocate. In it, Vera claimed that there were at least six persons involved and that he did not commit the actual robbery. But the biggest bomb Vera dropped was that very little of the $81,000 stolen was ever recovered by police.
According to Woodbury only $3,400 was recovered from Woodson’s car after it crashed leaving a little over $75,000 unaccounted for.
“You do the math,” Woodbury said at the time.
According to Vera he has had two previous felony convictions one for burglary and one for robbery. He finished a ten and a half year sentence in 2012.
“I was at Ely and then at Carson,” he said. “I got out in 2012 and came to Wendover.”
Woodbury confirmed that it would very likely that Vera would indeed be classified as an habitual criminal and would get a life sentence if he lost at trial.
According to police reports the robber was wearing either a mask or face paint during the crime so identification is impossible. However according to Woodbury the body type of the robber is not close match for Vera.
“It isn’t a close match because it isn’t me.” Vera said. “Like I said I was in Salt Lake when it went down. As soon as I heard about it me and another guy took off toward Wendover. I was on the overpass right at the road block the cops set up. I was the one who told Elbert about the road block that is why he turned off the freeway. I couldn’t have known about the road block if I was coming from Wendover could I? The only thing they have placing me in the casino at the time of the robbery is Lauren’s testimony. Why they believe her and not charge her I really don’t know.”
While Vera claims he was not at the casino during the robbery he did admit that he had been there a week before during a previous attempt to rob it.
“It didn’t work out,” Vera said. “The original plan was to go to the Bonneville Gardens Apartments but I guess Elbert decided to go to Salt Lake.”
Even if Vera’s claims are true the fact that he was actually working in the casino and had a gaming card has lead many to question the Gaming control Board efficacy on back ground checks.