Document: ‘Juggers’ targeted customers at Wells Fargo in Central El Paso

PICTURE ABOVE: Colby Carrington (left) Isaiah Jackson (middle) Tyler Perez-Philbot (right)

EL PASO, Texas – Court documents obtained by ABC-7 reveal three men accused of breaking into vehicles to steal money targeted people at the Wells Fargo located at Geronimo and Gateway West.

In one of the cases, the men allegedly stole more than $1,900 dollars from a vehicle, the documents state.

On May 8, 2018, El Paso Police said several “jugging” cases had been cleared after the arrest of three suspects.

Police charged 21-year-old Colby Carrington with six counts of Burglary of Vehicle with bonds set at $57,500. 20-year-old Isaiah Jackson was charged with two counts of Burglary of Vehicle and 1 count of Theft with bonds set at $34,000. 22-year-old Tyler Perez-Philbot was charged with one count of Burglary of Vehicle with bond set at $7,500.

Police investigating a series of vehicle burglary cases learned some of the victims had conducted some type of banking transaction prior to being victimized.

Police said that although “jugging” has been occurring for a few years in other Texas cities, it is a relatively new crime trend in El Paso. “Jugging” is a criminal practice in which burglars target banking customers who appear to make withdrawals. The suspects follow the unsuspecting victims after they leave the bank, then break into the victim’s car or to rob them of any funds or property that may have been left inside the vehicle.

CARRINGTON

On February 16, 2018, police were called to the Wells Fargo at 6175 Gateway West to investigate a vehicle burglary. A woman told officers someone broke the passenger side window and stole $180 from the passenger seat. The woman said she had just withdrawn the money and placed it inside an envelope she left on top of the passenger seat. The woman returned to the bank to finish some business, and when she returned to her car, she noticed it had been burglarized.

A complaint affidavit obtained by ABC-7 states police arrested Carrington in an unrelated incident when Carrington allegedly provided a false name to a police officer. After Carrington was taken into custody, a detective investigating vehicle burglaries showed a photo of Carrington to a witness, who allegedly identified Carrington as the person who broke into the vehicle at the Wells Fargo.

Under interrogation, Carrington allegedly admitted to being the person who broke into the vehicle to steal the $180, the document states.

JACKSON

On March 28, 2018, police were called to the Wells Fargo Bank at Geronimo and Gateway West. A victim told police he withdrew $1,912 from the bank, then placed the money in an envelope he left on his sun visor while he entered the Costco at Bassett Place. When the man returned to his vehicle, he noticed the passenger side window was smashed and the envelope with the money was missing.

Police arrested Jackson and Carrington on April 27, 2018 in connection to a separate investigation.

Under interrogation, Jackson allegedly told police he was riding in Carrington’s car on March 28th. Jackson said Carrington drove to the Wells Fargo and observed the victim leaving the bank. Carrington allegedly followed the victim to the Costco, Jackson allegedly told police. Once at the Costco, Jackson allegedly moved into the driver’s seat, while Carrington broke into the victim’s vehicle. After Carrington stole the $1,912 left in the car, he re-entered his car and Jackson drove away, the complaint affidavit states.

Jackson told police Carrington gave him $300 from the money Carrington stole outside Costco.

PEREZ-PHILPOT

On April 25, 2018, police investigating a vehicle burglary met with a man who did not fall prey to the scheme, but still had his truck broken into.

The man said he withdrew $5,000 from the Wells Fargo at Geronimo and Gateway West in Central El Paso before driving to a business on the 1800 block of Lee Trevino. Unlike the other victims, the man placed the $5,000 inside his pockets and entered the business.

While inside, a witness approached the man and told him a “tall, young and think black man with dreadlocks ” had just broken into his truck. When the victim returned to his pickup, he noticed all the mail on his dashboard had been stolen. The witness told the victim the suspect drove away in a green vehicle.

Police investigating several “juggings” around El Paso interviewed an unnamed co-defendant who implicated himself in several of the vehicle burglaries. The co-defendant told police Perez-Philpot was the one driving the green car on the day they broke into the pickup truck. A complaint affidavit states Perez-Philpot owns a green 2002 Chevrolet Malibu.

Investigators located Perez-Philpot at an apartment complex at 1650 George Dieter. Under interrogation, Perez-Philpot allegedly admitted he was driving the green car and was aware the co-defendant who implicated him was going to break into the pickup. Perez-Philpot allegedly said he agreed to drive the co-defendant because he was promised some money.