A Brighton man was held on high bail today following his arraignment on charges that he robbed one Brighton convenience store late last month and acted as an accessory to another robbery late last week, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said today.

MIGUEL VARGAS (D.O.B. 1/9/86) was arrested early this morning by Boston Police investigating multiple robberies of convenience stores in the Brighton area. At his Brighton District Court arraignment this afternoon, Vargas was ordered held on $50,000 cash bail on each of two separate complaints, for a total of $100,000.

The first complaint charges Vargas with two counts of armed robbery for a Dec. 28 incident at the Quality Mart at 140 North Beacon St. In addition to robbing the store, the assailants in that case also robbed a 37-year-old customer from Brighton who was present at the scene.

The second complaint charges Vargas with being an accessory before the fact to a Jan. 8 armed robbery at the Tedeschi’s at 241 Market St. That complaint also charges him with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawfully carrying a loaded firearm.

“Strong investigations, aggressive prosecutions, and community participation are a combination that can’t be beat when it comes to tackling violent crime,” Conley said. “These were not minor incidents. They involved guns and violence and they won’t be tolerated in Brighton or anywhere else.”

Vargas is alleged to be one of two hooded, gun-toting men who walked into the Quality Mart shortly before 6:00 p.m. on Dec. 28, 2009. One assailant, a dark-skinned male, struck the cashier and robbed him; the second assailant, a light-skinned male alleged to be Vargas, robbed a customer. Both fled the scene.

Vargas is also alleged to have provided a loaded, operational firearm to HENRY NELSON (D.O.B. 1/29/91) for use in the Jan. 8 armed robbery of the Market Street Tedeschi’s. Nelson was arrested early that morning and arraigned yesterday; he, too, is being held on $100,000 cash bail.

Vargas was identified as a suspect after an active, focused investigation by Boston Police developed surveillance footage, evidence at the crime scenes, and statements from multiple civilian witnesses. He was arrested after a search warrant was executed at his Faneuil Street home early this morning. Recovered at that residence were a pellet gun and a single round of ammunition. A pit bull occupying the residence was safely removed by an Animal Control officer.

Vargas was arraigned by Assistant District Attorney John Seed, the supervising prosecutor at Brighton court. He will return to court with attorney Tracy Dudevoir on Jan. 29.