Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.

Help support the publication of case reports on MoreLaw

Date: 11-07-2017

Case Style:

United States of America v. Matthew J. Higgins-Vogt

Central District of Illinois Federal Courthouse - Springfield, Illinois

Case Number: 2:17-cr-20022-CSB-EIL

Judge: CSB

Court: United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois (Sangamon County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Jason Bohm and Katherine Virginia Boyle

Defendant's Attorney: Anthony Bruno and Evan Bruno

Description: Springfield, IL - Decatur Man Pleads Guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery, Conspiracy, and Firearms Charges

Matthew J. Higgins-Vogt, 25, of Decatur, Ill., who pled guilty on October 30, 2017 to his role in the April 2015, armed robbery of the Circle K convenience store and murder of 19-year-old Paige Mars, also of Decatur.

In court, Higgins-Vogt admitted that on April 3, 2015, he and Kelton Snyder robbed the Circle K convenience store at 1685 S. Baltimore in Decatur, and took money, including the contents of the cash register, and alcohol, while Snyder brandished a 12-gauge shotgun. In furtherance of the conspiracy to commit the armed robbery of the convenience store, Higgins-Vogt admitted that he shot and killed Paige Mars on April 5, 2015, because he and Snyder did not want Mars to alert law enforcement about the robbery. Mars drove the two men to the convenience store, waited in the car while they committed the robbery, and then drove them away.

The case was investigated by the Decatur Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Macon County Sheriff’s Office.

Higgins-Vogt has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his initial appearance in federal court on Feb. 17, 2017. Higgins-Vogt was previously in the custody of the Macon County Sheriff’s Office since his arrest on state charges on April 8, 2015.

At sentencing, the penalty for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence is a mandatory seven years to life to be served consecutive to any sentence imposed for the crime of violence. The statutory sentence for Hobbs Act robbery and conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, is up to 20 years in prison. For felon in possession of a firearm, the penalty is up to 10 years in prison.

A jury convicted co-conspirator Kelton Snyder in April 2016. On Oct. 24, 2016, Snyder was sentenced to life in federal prison.

Outcome: Guilty

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments:



Find a Lawyer

Subject:
City:
State:
 

Find a Case

Subject:
County:
State: