Los Angeles County Sheriffs and the FBI are investigating whether or not two males arrested Friday on suspicion of robbing an armed truck and capturing a safety guard are the identical pair that hit the Hustler On line casino in August.
Gregory James, 47, of San Pedro, and Lamond Akins, 30, of Compton, had been charged on Friday morning with Hobbs Act theft and discharging a firearm throughout a criminal offense, the Los Angeles Instances studies. The previous is a federal cost associated to robberies that have an effect on interstate commerce. It carries as much as 20 years imprisonment.
The suspects are accused of ambushing a Loomis guard who was delivering cash to an ATM at a Financial institution of America department in S. Vermont Ave., West Carson.
Hallmarks of Prior Crimes
The robbers had been carrying semiautomatic handguns. They shot the guard a number of instances in the proper leg earlier than escaping in a black Chevrolet Malibu, in keeping with courtroom filings.
Police found that Akins was the registered proprietor of the automotive. Cellphone information confirmed that James was within the space of the theft, in keeping with prosecutors. The Chevrolet was caught on surveillance video pulling into the car parking zone of an condo complicated ten minutes after the theft. Â
The 2 males are seen getting into the constructing’s elevator collectively shortly afterwards, in keeping with the arrest affidavit.
The robbers’ MO bears placing similarities to the Hustler raid, in addition to one other theft, an ambush on two Loomis guards loading money into an ATM at a 7Eleven in Carson on September 27. One of many guards was shot twice within the buttocks on this incident.
Hustler Theft
On August 4, two males exiting their armored truck exterior The Hustler had been met with a volley of gunfire from as much as three males, in keeping with witnesses. One guard was injured within the assault and was later transported to hospital. He was in vital situation however was anticipated to outlive, in keeping with information studies on the time.
The guards returned gunfire and witnesses reported one of many robbers might have been injured within the alternate. After grabbing an unknown amount of money, the lads fled in a white Honda Accord earlier than switching to a black Chevrolet Malibu, in keeping with courtroom information.
There have been no pictures fired contained in the on line casino. However patrons and employees had been evacuated as police and firefighters established a fringe across the Hustler On line casino crime scene.
Cellular phone information present that James’ cellular system was within the space when each of the crimes had been dedicated, prosecutors stated.