Opening statements began Tuesday in the robbery trial of an Arizona man who prosecutors say targeted exotic dancers years before he was later charged in the kidnapping and killing of one of the women.
Cudjoe Young, 30, is accused of carrying out armed robberies involving dancers in the Phoenix area in 2020. Prosecutors allege those incidents are connected to a broader pattern that later led to the 2023 death of 22-year-old Mercedes Vega.
Young has pleaded not guilty to all charges filed against him.
Trial
The current trial focuses on allegations that Young robbed Vega at gunpoint in October 2020 and attempted to rob another dancer several weeks later.
Maricopa County prosecutor Jennifer Linn told jurors that digital records, including cell tower information and phone evidence, place Young at the scenes of the crimes.
Defense attorney Candice Shoemaker challenged the reliability of some of the evidence and argued that Young was not the masked gunman described by victims.
She told jurors that prosecutors were relying heavily on circumstantial evidence and disputed claims linking Young directly to the robberies.
Robbery
According to investigators, Vega was attacked before dawn on Oct. 12, 2020, after finishing work at a Phoenix nightclub where she danced.
Police records state that a masked man approached Vega outside her apartment building while holding a gun. The man allegedly demanded her car keys, wallet and a bag containing cash.
Authorities said the suspect also unlocked Vega’s cellphone and transferred additional money through a cash payment application before fleeing.
Body camera footage shown in court captured Vega speaking with police shortly after the robbery.
“How did he know I was gonna be coming home at this time?” Vega asked an officer.
Prosecutors later found an image of Vega’s driver’s license on Young’s phone, according to court testimony. Investigators also linked him to financial transfers made from Vega’s device after the robbery.
The defense argued that another unidentified person was responsible for the transfers and for sending the image found on the phone.
Attempt
Weeks after Vega’s robbery, prosecutors say another dancer from the same club was confronted in the parking garage of her apartment complex.
According to testimony, a masked man pointed a firearm at the woman and ordered her to unlock her phone.
The attempted robbery ended when another vehicle entered the garage, prosecutors said. The suspect reportedly threatened to kill the woman if she contacted police before leaving without taking property.
Police records show Young was later connected to that incident as well.
Alleged Incidents Timeline
| Year | Incident | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Scottsdale robbery | Dancer robbed outside condo |
| 2020 | Vega robbery | Armed robbery after work shift |
| 2020 | Attempted robbery | Second dancer confronted in garage |
| 2023 | Vega homicide | Kidnapping and killing investigation |
Murder
Young separately faces charges connected to Vega’s death in April 2023.
Authorities allege Vega was assaulted and kidnapped from the parking garage of her Tempe apartment complex before being killed hours later.
Her body was discovered inside a burning Chevrolet Malibu along Interstate 10 west of Phoenix after a driver reported flames coming from the vehicle.
The Maricopa County medical examiner determined Vega died from a combination of fire-related injuries, blunt force trauma and gunshot wounds.
Young has been charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, theft, arson and armed robbery with a deadly weapon in connection with the case.
Co-Defendants
Two additional men, Jared Gray and Sencere Hayes, were also indicted in Vega’s killing.
Court documents state investigators linked the men to the crime through fingerprint evidence and other forensic findings.
Authorities additionally alleged Young may have purchased airline tickets for Gray and Hayes to travel from Tennessee to Arizona before Vega’s death.
Both men have pleaded not guilty.
Defendants in the Case
| Defendant | Charges | Plea |
|---|---|---|
| Cudjoe Young | Murder, robbery, kidnapping | Not guilty |
| Jared Gray | Murder-related charges | Not guilty |
| Sencere Hayes | Murder-related charges | Not guilty |
Delays
The robbery case has faced multiple delays over several years.
Court records show Young previously considered plea agreements offered by prosecutors, including one arrangement that reportedly would have reduced the robbery charges significantly and limited prison time.
However, the agreements were never finalized, and the case proceeded to trial this week.
Legal proceedings related to Vega’s killing remain separate from the robbery trial currently underway.
Investigation
Prosecutors believe Vega may have been targeted because she was expected to cooperate with investigators regarding the 2020 robbery case.
According to Vega’s mother, Erika Pillsbury, her daughter was scheduled to testify around the time she was killed.
Authorities have not publicly detailed the full evidence they intend to present during the future homicide trial.
The robbery trial is expected to continue in Maricopa County Superior Court as prosecutors and defense attorneys present witness testimony, digital evidence and investigative findings connected to the 2020 incidents.
FAQs
Who is Cudjoe Young?
He is an Arizona man facing robbery and murder charges.
Who was Mercedes Vega?
She was a 22-year-old Arizona dancer killed in 2023.
What charges is Young facing?
He faces robbery, murder, kidnapping and arson charges.
How did investigators link Young to the case?
Through phone data, money transfers and other evidence.
Have the defendants pleaded guilty?
No, all defendants pleaded not guilty.
Trump Says Americans’ Finances Are Not Driving Iran Negotiations