Guilty Plea in Armed Robberies of Maryland Live Customers

A Baltimore man who helped another conspirator rob customers after they left the Maryland Live Casino in Hanover – hauling in more than $26,000 – pleaded guilty to several robberies.

Jose Hector Laguerre, 47, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to commit robbery in connection with several robberies casino patrons, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Maryland.

According to his plea agreement, on three times between Nov. 1 and Nov. 10, 2013, Laguerre helped Willie Fleming rob eight patrons of the casino at gunpoint. Fleming instigated the robberies in order to pay his gambling and marijuana trafficking debts. Fleming obtained the handgun used in the robberies, and robbed three other casino patrons on Oct. 27, 2013.

Prosecutors say video surveillance from the casino showed Laguerre and Fleming following patrons inside the casino, and then by car as they drove out of the casino garage. The pair robbed the victims at gunpoint after the victims got out of their cars to enter their homes, or in one instance, as they rested in their car while parked in a shopping center lot on their way home.

The duo stole a total of at least $26,000 in cash, a check and personal property such as jewelry, credit cards, cell phones, wallets, purses and clothing, court documents say.

On Nov. 14, 2013, Fleming was arrested for drug and gun offenses in Baltimore while he was in the vehicle used to commit the robberies. During a search of the car, police seized ski masks, a vest worn by Laguerre in a casino video, jewelry taken from the victims and a receipt for valet parking at the casino dated the same day as one of the robberies.

Laguerre faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 5, 2016.

Fleming, 37, of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the robberies and was sentenced to 137 months in prison.