Casino Robbers Used Fake Rifles

The three men indicted earlier this week on charges of robbing an armored van at Casino Arizona of $740,000 have reportedly used toy assault rifles and pepper spray to carry out the crime.

Bosnia-Herzegovina natives Bakir Mujkic, 57, Adnan Alisic, 26, and Ismar Kabaklic, 24 were arraigned Thursday in the U.S District Court in Phoenix.

Two of the suspects, Alisic and Kabaklic, were ordered to remain in jail until the beginning of their trial on Sept. 12 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Virginia Mathis.

According to officials, Alisic was behind the wheel of the getaway van from the casino at Indian Bend Road and Loop 101 before the group led the police on a brief manhunt a short distance from Osborn and Hayden roads.

Kabaklic was arrested at the scene while Alisic and Mujcik were later arrested at their homes.

Alisic and Kabaklic reportedly threatened the armored van guards with fake AK-47 assualt rifles, who were at the time servicing an automated teller at the casino. The suspects shortly used pepper spray on the guards to stun them, according to U.S. Attorney Sharon Sexton.

The cash taken from the van was recovered and returned, according to investigators.

"(The robbery) could have been a disaster," Judge Mathis told the three Thursday. "We're lucky no one was killed."