A man who carried out a robbery at the Wildhorse Resort and Casino in Oregon will face the consequences of his actions and serve 20 years behind bars. The sentence was handed down on August 4, 2026, after Javier Vigil, 55, pled guilty on April 7 and admitted to attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm, and robbery that took place on August 17, 2022.
Robber Acted Not Very God-Like
The robber spent a long time trying to fight off prison time, including pleading insanity and claiming to be “God,” but ultimately dropped this defense two days into his trial, pleading guilty instead. US Attorney Scott E. Bradford said Vigil “gambled and lost” when he chose to rob the casino at gunpoint, and that he “deserved and received the full consequences under federal law.”
On the fateful date, Vigil walked straight into the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s casino property and headed to the cashier. When reaching the counter, he handed over a note demanding $1 million, then pulled out a gun and repeated the demand, threatening to “bathe everyone in blood.”
The cashier thought the man was joking at first, but then she saw the weapon. She removed cash from a drawer, handing over nearly $70,000, while quietly activating the security mechanism.
Vigil did not get his $1 million from the cashier, but settled for the proffered sum, just over $69,000, and made it out of the casino in less than two minutes after entering. However, tribal police were already outside the venue, with the man opening fire on the patrol, who fired back and struck him.
Crime Lands Him for 20 Years Behind Bars
A Pendleton School District employee was shot in the gunfire exchange, along with the robber. When police interviewed Vigil, he told them he was God, and it was his right to rob the casino. He also told police that he had avoided shooting at the officers directly during the exchange in order not to injure them.
Investigators later learned Vigil had acquired the firearm just two weeks before the robbery, on August 3, 2022. A federal grand jury in Portland returned a six-count superseding indictment against him in December 2023.
In addition to the 20-year sentence, Vigil received five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $2,040.71 in restitution to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation.