PORTLAND, Ore. — A Umatilla County man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for robbing the Wildhorse Resort and Casino at gunpoint, shooting at a tribal police officer during his escape, and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Javier Vigil, 55, was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $2,040.71 in restitution to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation.
According to federal prosecutors, the crimes occurred on Aug. 17, 2022, when Vigil entered the Wildhorse Resort and Casino, located on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation near Pendleton. Court records show Vigil approached the casino’s cash cage and handed a teller a note demanding $1 million before drawing a pistol and pointing it at the employee. As casino staff gathered cash, Vigil made threatening statements before leaving with more than $69,000.
As Vigil exited the casino, he encountered a Umatilla Tribal Police officer. Prosecutors said Vigil raised his firearm and fired at the officer, who returned fire. During the exchange of gunfire, Vigil was struck and fell to the ground before being taken into custody. A bystander outside the casino was also injured after being struck by a stray bullet.
Investigators later determined Vigil had obtained the firearm approximately two weeks before the robbery.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford said Vigil’s actions put the lives of casino employees, patrons, law enforcement officers, and bystanders at risk.
“Vigil gambled and lost when he chose to rob this casino with a gun. His violent actions endangered innocent employees, patrons, and a law enforcement officer. He deserved and received the full consequences under federal law,” Bradford said. “Our tribal communities are incredibly important to me, and I will use every available federal resource to protect them and pursue justice on their behalf. I am also extremely grateful to the law enforcement officer, who risked his life that day to stop this defendant from harming anyone else.”
A federal grand jury returned a six-count superseding indictment against Vigil on Dec. 19, 2023, charging him with interference with commerce by robbery, two counts of using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, felon in possession of a firearm with an armed career criminal enhancement, attempted murder, and assault with a dangerous weapon.
On April 7, 2026, during the second day of his federal trial, Vigil pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by robbery, felon in possession of a firearm with an armed career criminal enhancement, and attempted murder.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Umatilla Tribal Police Department with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Hermiston Police Department, Pendleton Police Department, Oregon State Police, the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, and the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassady Adams and Arin Heinz prosecuted the case.
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