Two young women charged in El Prado gas station armed robbery
The Conoco-Phillips gas station located in El Prado was allegedly robbed at gunpoint Jan. 9 by two young women – marking at least the second armed robbery in Taos County in less than one month.
Two suspects, Estefina Valles, 21, and Vanessa Cisneros, 19, have been arrested in connection with the robbery – a crime for which the women face second-degree felony charges and serious jail time for a reported take of $83.23.
Law enforcement officials say Cisneros is from Questa and Valles is from Taos.
Details
Deputies from the Taos County Sheriff's Office responded to the report of an armed robbery at the gas station located at 1642 Paseo del Pueblo Norte around 9 p.m.
The report included the description of a suspected getaway vehicle – a green Chevrolet Suburban (later identified as a Chevrolet Tahoe).
Upon arrival on the scene, deputies learned from the gas station clerk and security camera footage that two individuals, believed to be young women, both dressed in dark clothing and wearing masks, approached the gas station in a "suspicious" manner in the suspected vehicle, a statement of probable cause states.
Believing "something was going to happen," the clerk then allegedly engaged the station's emergency hold-up alarm.
The passenger of the vehicle, later identified as Cisneros, then reportedly exited the vehicle. Upon the apparent urging of the driver, identified as Valles, Cisneros entered the store brandishing a handgun and demanded money from the clerk.
The clerk complied, handing over all of the money in the register at that time, according to the report.
The suspect then left the store and re-entered the getaway vehicle, and the suspects were seen departing northbound on U.S. 64.
Soon after, the vehicle was located driving along U.S. 64 near Michael's Kitchen, where sheriff's deputy performed a felony traffic stop and arrested the two suspects.
Cisneros claimed to have discarded a "pistol" and a "rifle." She also added that her girlfriend, Valles, had coerced her into committing the crime. A "BB gun" rifle was later discovered on the north side shoulder of U.S. 64 in El Prado, allegedly connected to the incident.
In custody
Valles and Cisneros have both been charged with armed robbery, a second-degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a fourth-degree felony.
Law enforcement have not identified any other accomplices at this time.
Both suspects were arraigned in Taos County Magistrate Court Dec. 10 and are being held in the Taos County Adult Detention Center on $90,000 cash-only bonds. Hearings are now set for Jan. 19 at 9:30 a.m. before Chief Judge Ernest Ortega.
The crime follows the armed robbery of Dollar General, located at 1531 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, on Dec. 20.
