A Payson man, Armando Pablo Ochoa, 32, of Payson, was sentenced to ten years in prison after pleading guilty to use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.
According to the FBI, the 32-year-old Ochoa and 31-year-old or Ryan Pearson, were employees at the Mazatzal Casino when they entered the casino armed with handguns and demanded that employees open a vault. When they did not receive immediate compliance, Ochoa and Pearson each fired a round from their weapons.
The incident happened at the Mazatzal Casino, located along Highway 87 in the southern area of Payson, on July 17.
Ochoa admitted to using a weapon, along with co-defendant, Ryan Pearson, to rob $652,000 in cash from the casino.
Pearson pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence and is scheduled for sentencing on April 15, 2019.