7 years in prison for man accused of series of arcade robberies | Guam News

A man was sentenced to seven years in prison at the end of 2022 for robbing several gambling halls.

Ryan Jay Cruz appeared in Guam Superior Court Friday morning to be sentenced in two separate cases where he was accused of robbing three gambling dens within a week.

Cruz entered into a plea deal in both cases that called for a sentence of five to eight years, instead of 35 years if Cruz had not pleaded guilty.

Before Presiding Judge Alberto Lamorena III heard the attorneys' sentencing recommendations, Cruz's attorney Brian Kegerreis of the Public Defender Service Corp. called Cruz's brother and mother to testify at the hearing.

Kegerreis, who asked for the lowest sentence for Cruz, said Cruz's family testimony showed he had family support and that Cruz was a good father. Kegerreis further said Cruz knew he had a drug problem and took responsibility for his actions.

“He takes full responsibility for his actions and is sorry. … We ask your honor to choose the lesser sentence and to let Mr. Cruz be a father to his children and let him be a family member, a part of his family and a valuable member of society,” Kegerreis said.

Cruz subsequently issued a statement expressing regret and apologizing for his actions.

“I know what I did is wrong. … I am sorry to the people I put in danger. … I hope one day they can forgive me,” Cruz said.

The Attorney General's Office, on the other hand, demanded that Cruz serve the maximum sentence of eight years, largely because he had a chance to turn his life around before being charged with the robberies after pleading guilty to drug possession in 2021.

After hearing the recommendations, Lamorena emphasized the previous charges before the verdict, but said that this case, with the help of his lawyer, gives Cruz a second chance. Lamorena also urged Cruz not to “squander” this opportunity.

“Don't waste this opportunity. … I think you regret it. I believe you have strong family support, and I hope that while you are incarcerated at the Department of Corrections, you will be visited often and provided with that ongoing support,” Lamorena said.

Lamorena subsequently sentenced Cruz to seven years in prison before the DOC.

Robberies

According to court documents, Cruz was first accused of robbing the Speed ​​​​Game Room on November 28, 2022, and stealing $1,300 from the cash register.

Then, that same week, on December 2, 2022, Cruz allegedly pointed a silver gun at an employee at the OK Fun Game Room in Harmon, yelled at him, and took about $2,000.

The robbery spree continued on Dec. 8, 2022, at the Winster Game Room, when Cruz ordered the cashier to “cash out,” but later punched the cashier in the face and filled a black bag with money, documents say.