A bunch of closely armed robbers dubbed the “Chesapeake Bandits” is behind a sequence of heists concentrating on armored automobiles throughout the Los Angeles area, and authorities not too long ago apprehended one of many ring leaders, the FBI and native police introduced Thursday.
Federal prosecutors charged two of the important thing suspects concerned within the 5 armed heists, which resulted in a whole lot of 1000’s of {dollars} being stolen, authorities stated. Deneyvous Hobson, 36, and James Russell Davis, 34, each face theft and conspiracy costs. Hobson was taken into custody Feb. 21, whereas Davis stays a fugitive. At the very least 5 others believed to be a part of the group additionally stay at massive.
“The defendants on this case and the opposite co-conspirators are closely armed and pointed their weapons on the victims,” which in every case had been safety guards, U.S. Atty. Martin Estrada stated at a information convention on the FBI’s L.A. headquarters in Westwood.
Estrada stated in a single holdup “a firearm was discharged” by a suspect alleged to be Hobson. Video of one of many heists exhibits the masked bandits welding an AR-style rifle with a brief barrel, an optical sight and a big prolonged journal.
The bandits would power safety guards to the bottom at gunpoint, zip-tie them, and seize the cash baggage earlier than fleeing. At the very least 5 different people are imagine to a part of the Chesapeake Bandits, a reputation given to the group as a result of investigators say they fastidiously deliberate the holdups at a house on Chesapeake Avenue title in L.A.’s West Adams neighborhood.
James Russell Davis faces conspiracy and theft costs, authorities say.
(FBI)
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore stated detectives investigating the armored automotive robberies discovered connections between the crimes dedicated at varied banks final 12 months in Hawthorne, Inglewood and Los Angeles.
Moore stated the LAPD’S Theft Murder Division labored with investigators from different companies to “knit collectively” the id of a few of these behind the heists, which had been dedicated in daylight.
“No guard or worker has been injured so far, however whenever you take a look at the techniques used right here, somebody in contrast them to the films,” he stated.
Donald Alway, FBI assistant director in command of the L.A. workplace, stated the the bandits would conduct advance surveillance on the places, utilizing a number of automobiles and personnel. The group had drivers who would stay of their automobiles throughout the robberies, he stated.
Three weeks earlier than the primary holdup at a credit score union financial institution in Hawthorne, two suspects believed to have been Hobson and Davis had been seen in a white Chevrolet Tahoe “for about one hour whereas a future sufferer, J.G. — a Sectran Safety, Inc., armored automotive driver — parked his armored automotive and picked up money” from ATM machines, in accordance with the legal criticism.
A financial institution worker seen the boys and suspicious exercise and referred to as police. A police officer questioned the 2 males, they usually offered their identification, and each had the identical Chesapeake Avenue tackle, in accordance with affidavit filed with the criticism.
“Three weeks later, to the day — and virtually the very same minute … J.G. was robbed whereas gathering money from the identical” ATM machines, Elizabeth Cardenas, an FBI particular agent, stated within the affidavit.
The suspects had been three males who used what seemed to be an AR-15 and a handgun and throughout the theft, authorities stated. They stole the guard’s gun and about $100,000.
They crew allegedly pulled off the same heist about half a mile away in Inglewood on June 9, stealing almost $93,000, authorities stated. A automobile matching Davis’ Tahoe was “seen main a getaway automotive inside half-hour of the theft on a close-by Ring digicam.”
In keeping with court docket data, Hobson has earlier convictions for theft and assault with a lethal weapon, whereas Davis has a conviction for receiving stolen property and possessing housebreaking instruments.
At the very least 5 different people are believed to be a part of the Chesapeake Bandits however have but to be recognized. Surveillance images of the unknown topics will be discovered right here: WantedUnknownSubjects
Anybody who could acknowledge a suspect’s clothes or could have heard somebody discussing their involvement is urged to name the FBI with a tip. A reward of as much as $25,000 is being supplied by the FBI in change for data resulting in an arrest on this case.
