A Las Vegas resident, Wyatt Scott Peterson, has been sentenced to 26 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his involvement in armed robberies and an assault on a federal officer. The sentence stems from two separate cases where Peterson admitted to robbing two jewelry stores and attacking a detention officer while in custody.
Court documents reveal that on December 12, 2016, Peterson entered EZ Pawn in Las Vegas, brandishing a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. He demanded the keys to the jewelry case and discharged the firearm into a display case during the robbery. Peterson stole at least $40,000 worth of items before fleeing. On December 21, 2016, he committed another robbery at Super Pawn in Las Vegas, stealing jewelry valued at over $20,000.
Peterson's criminal history includes convictions for identity theft in Colville, Washington; possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in Spoke, Washington; and attempting to carry a concealed firearm or other deadly weapon in Clark County, Nevada. As a felon, he is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
In December 2016, following his arrest for armed robbery charges, Peterson was detained at Nevada Southern Detention Center in Pahrump. While there, he assaulted a detention officer by punching him at the stairwell.
Peterson pleaded guilty to several charges: commerce by robbery; possessing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and assaulting a federal officer.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Division. The FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jim Fang prosecuted the cases.