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By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
HART — The second of two men was sentenced in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court Monday, Nov. 3, for robbing the La Mexicana De Pancho grocery store at gunpoint last December, and he and his accomplice are expected to be deported from the U.S. after serving their prison terms.
Jorge Soriano Benitez, 39, of Shelby was sentenced to three and a half to 25 years in prison.
Benitez
Benitez and his accomplice Miguel Angel Vargas-Mares, 23, of Shelby both pleaded “no contest” to armed robbery. Vargas-Mares received the same sentence, June 9. It is likely both men, who are originally from Mexico, will be deported due to their criminal convictions.
“We are grateful to finally have this case finished,” said Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Bizon. “Both suspects will serve their time in prison and then be subject, after serving their time, to the immigration process. Both individuals were lawfully in the United States.
“I am not a federal agent nor an expert on immigration,” explained Prosecutor Bizon after being questioned on the likelihood of the men’s deportations. “However, my experience with this is that armed robbery is a violent offense and will qualify for removal from this country. I expect them to be deported when the department of corrections determines they have completed their sentence.”
Vargas-Mares
A charge of felony firearms was dismissed for both defendants.
The robbery occurred at the store located at 2361 North Oceana Drive in Hart Township Dec. 13, 2024.
“The weapon used was a pistol,” Bizon said.
A man suffered minor injuries during the robbery, Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast said previously. “One victim received some facial abrasions when he was assaulted. There was a very brief struggle. The weapon used was displayed and threatened prominently.”
A total of $565 was recovered from the defendants following the robbery, said Bizon.
Benitez received credit for 234 days served in jail, said Bizon.
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