Pawned jewelry leads to 3 arrests in home invasion

RED OAK – Three men were arrested in connection with a home invasion robbery earlier this month, according to the Ellis County Sheriff’s department.

Sheriff’s deputies responded shortly after noon Dec. 5 to a residence in the 900 block of Augusta Street, where a woman said two men entered her home and held her at gunpoint while they stole a safe containing high-end jewelry.

The woman was uninjured, and told police the robbers fled in a four-door silver sedan.

Investigators later discovered some of the jewelry had been pawned at First Cash Pawn in Duncanville.

They were also able to identify the seller through the shops surveillance video as Juan Vigil of Dallas.

Investigators additionally learned the Texas Department of Pardons and Parole had issued a warrant for Vigil’s arrest on burglary and other charges.

The video surveillance also showed a man with Vigil during the pawn shop transaction, and the two were seen outside in a silver four-door sedan.

After locating the car at a Dallas apartment complex, Ellis County investigators set up surveillance and, with the help of Dallas police, conducted a traffic stop.

The car’s two occupants were identified as Vigil, 31, and also Reginald Bowman-Griffin, 29.

Vigil was taken into custody on the outstanding warrant, and Bowman-Griffin, also of Dallas, was also arrested after it was discovered he was wearing one of the stolen articles of jewelry.

A Red Oak resident, Javier Robles, had worked with Bowman-Griffin during the robbery and apparently knew the victim, authorities said. Robles, 36, was taken into custody at his home.

The three men were booked into the Ellis County Jail.

Bowman-Griffin was being held in lieu of $180,000 bail. Robles’ bail was set at $45,000. Bail had not been set for Vigil.