MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Two men with lengthy criminal histories are facing new charges after allegedly attacking and robbing a woman at gunpoint in Miami-Dade County’s unincorporated Tamiami neighborhood earlier this year, authorities said.
Jail records show Yasmani Junior Benavides, 20, was arrested Monday and faces one count of armed robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon and aggravated battery with great bodily harm in connection with the May 3 attack.
His co-defendant, Anquan Deion Wiley, 22, is also facing serious charges, though details of his arrest were not immediately available. A third suspect involved in the case has yet to be identified.
According to an arrest report, the victim was removing belongings from her vehicle just after 6 a.m. near the 800 block of Southwest 154th Court when a white four-door Genesis sedan pulled up behind her and three masked men jumped out of the car.
Two of them, later identified as Benavides and Wiley, allegedly dragged the woman to the ground in an attempt to steal her purse, while a third suspect struck her in the head with a handgun, the report stated.
Authorities said the pair fled the scene with the victim’s purse. They also confirmed that she was treated at a hospital for a scalp laceration that required stitches.
Investigators said they obtained surveillance footage that captured the robbery.
Authorities said the suspects were also caught on camera shortly after the attack using the victim’s stolen credit cards at a CVS and a car wash on South Dixie Highway.
They said Benavides and Wiley were wearing the same clothing and driving the same vehicle used in the robbery, according to the report.
MDSO detectives said they identified both suspects from the surveillance footage and linked them to previous burglaries and robberies. They said fingerprints found in the vehicle matched both defendants.
Investigators said Benavides was taken into custody and invoked his right to remain silent.
Records show Benavides is facing charges of armed robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon and aggravated battery with great bodily harm.
He also has a long list of pending charges in unrelated cases, including multiple counts of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, armed robbery, attempted felony murder, credit card fraud and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
He was also previously arrested on charges of aggravated battery and burglary of an occupied dwelling while masked.
Wiley, similarly, is facing charges of illegal possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, tampering with physical evidence and resisting an officer without violence in connection with the May 3 armed robbery.
Records show he is also facing charges in several separate cases, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, grand theft of a vehicle, armed burglary and criminal mischief.
Both men are being held without bond at the Miami-Dade County Pre-Trial Detention Center.
A third suspect involved in the Tamiami robbery has not yet been identified, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information on any of the cases is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
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