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.
Police evacuated patrons and staff from the Hustler On line casino following the August 24 raid on an armored truck delivering money, which left one safety guard in a crucial situation. (Picture: NBC Los Angeles)
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 against the law, the Los Angeles Occasions reviews. 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 correct leg earlier than escaping in a black Chevrolet Malibu, in response to court docket 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 response to prosecutors. The Chevrolet was caught on surveillance video pulling into the parking zone of an house advanced ten minutes after the theft.
The 2 males are seen coming into the constructing’s elevator collectively shortly afterwards, in response to 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 outdoors The Hustler had been met with a volley of gunfire from as much as three males, in response to witnesses. One guard was injured within the assault and was later transported to hospital. He was in crucial situation however was anticipated to outlive, in response to information reviews on the time.
The guards returned gunfire and witnesses reported one of many robbers might have been injured within the change. After grabbing an unknown amount of money, the boys fled in a white Honda Accord earlier than switching to a black Chevrolet Malibu, in response to court docket information.
There have been no pictures fired contained in the on line casino. However patrons and staff had been evacuated as police and firefighters established a fringe across the Hustler On line casino crime scene.
Mobile phone information present that James’ cellular machine was within the space when each of the crimes had been dedicated, prosecutors stated.
