INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The two brothers accused of robbing the Vero Beach GameStop in early 2013, tying up the clerk and destroying the surveillance equipment, will spend the next 35 years in federal prison for their roles in this and several other armed robberies along the Treasure Coast, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
Matthew and Yubran Vazquez, then-24 and -22 respectively, eventually pled guilty to nine counts each of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence by the Southern District of Florida’s Fort Pierce Division, for which they were federally indicted.
They were recently sentenced to 35 years in federal prison and 5 years on probation. They are currently being held at the Miami Federal Detention Center pending transfer.
“I have been living this case for the past year,” said Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Detective Charlie Clark. “It is great to have closure for our victims. We want to thank Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Agents Sheppard and Helms, as well as Camden County Sheriff’s Office Captain Sirmon for their dedication to this case.”
According to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, it was ultimately the Vero Beach GameStop robbery that led to the brothers’ capture. The brothers robbed the store without masks – the first time during their spree, authorities said. They held the clerk at gunpoint, bound the clerk, and stole money and games, all while two customers were in the store. There were no injuries.
Prior to the GameStop robbery, they struck the Holiday Inn Express off Interstate 95 and State Road 60 in Vero Beach, as well as various gas stations and another Holiday Inn Express between Brevard and Palm Beach counties. In each of those armed robberies, the brothers wore masks.
“For those who think they can come to Indian River County and commit crimes, take note. Detectives Clark and Garrison went to Georgia to track down these criminals,” said Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar. “We take these crimes very seriously and will do whatever it takes to put criminals like the Vasquez brothers behind bars for a long time.”
Within hours of the GameStop robbery, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Charlie Clark and Ron Garrison headed to Georgia where they ultimately obtained confessions from Matthew and Yubran Vazquez for their involvement in both Vero Beach robberies.
Meanwhile, agents with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office obtained a warrant for Yubran Vazquez and were tracking a vehicle believed to have been used in some of the robberies. Camden County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia assisted Brevard County Sheriff’s Office in stopping three vehicles resulting in four total arrests.
Inside one of the vehicles, detectives located a shotgun and games taken from the Vero Beach GameStop location, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
