A Baltimore man was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, in connection with several robberies of Maryland Live casino patrons, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Jose Hector Laguerre, 47, and co-conspirator Willie Fleming used a firearm to rob eight patrons on three occasions from Nov. 1 to Nov. 10, 2013, according to Laguerre's plea agreement. Fleming, 37, of Baltimore, instigated the robberies in order to pay his gambling and marijuana trafficking debts, officials said.

Video surveillance from the Hanover casino showed Laguerre and Fleming following patrons inside the building, then by car as they drove out of the casino garage. The men robbed the victims at gunpoint after the victims got out of their cars to enter their homes, or in one instance, as they rested in their car while parked in a shopping center lot on their way home.

The robbers stole a total of at least $26,000 in cash, a check and personal property, such as jewelry, credit cards, cellphones, wallets, purses and clothing, officials said.

On Nov.14, 2013, Fleming was arrested for drug and gun offenses in Baltimore while he was in the vehicle used to commit the robberies, officials said. A search warrant was executed on the car and law enforcement seized ski masks, a vest worn by Laguerre in a casino video, jewelry stolen from the victims and a receipt for valet parking at the casino dated the same day as one of the robberies.Fleming obtained and maintained possession of the handgun used in the robberies, and committed an additional robbery with another co-conspirator of three casino patrons on Oct. 27, 2013, officials said. He previously pleaded guilty to his role in the robberies and was sentenced to 137 months in prison.Laguerre pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy in September.