Two men convicted in North Las Vegas home invasion

Following a nine-day trial, a federal jury Friday convicted two Arizona men in a 2012 North Las Vegas home invasion.

Joseph Andrade, 19, and Julian Gaytan, 20, both of Phoenix, were convicted of one count of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in furtherance of racketeering activity, two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of interstate travel in aid of racketeering activity.

They are to be sentenced Dec. 19.

Each defendant faces up to 57 five years in prison and a $1 million fine.

The prosecution was part of the Project Safe Neighborhood program that focuses on violent robberies and other crimes involving the use of firearms by recidivist felons, Nevada U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said.

According to prosecutors and court records, Andrade, Gaytan, and two co-defendants, Perla Ramirez, 22, and David Duran, 30, all drove from Phoenix on May 19, 2012, to carry out the robbery.

The defendants entered the residence armed with guns and terrorized its occupants before fleeing with cash, cell phones, jewelry and other items, prosecutors alleged.

A total of $317 was taken from two piggy banks, according to prosecutors.

The defendants repeatedly hit one of the victims while he was ordered to lie on the floor and threatened to kill all of the occupants unless they turned over their cash and valuables.

Duran is still at large, and Ramirez pleaded guilty earlier this month.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the North Las Vegas Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cristina D. Silva and Phillip N. Smith, Jr.