LOS ANGELES – Two men were arrested this morning on federal robbery and firearms offenses that allege they robbed an armored car on Monday and shot a guard several times in the leg.
Gregory James, 47, of San Pedro, and Lamond Akins, 30, of Compton, were arrested pursuant to a federal criminal complaint that charges them with Hobbs Act robbery and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Both men are expected to make their initial court appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
On Monday morning at approximately 11:20, a Loomis guard was ambushed by two armed suspects after working on ATMs at a Bank of America branch in Harbor City. According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, surveillance video from the scene and from James’ residence link the two defendants to the robbery.
Furthermore, “Akins is also the registered owner of a black Chevy Malibu, which is consistent with the vehicle used during the robbery,” the affidavit states. “Cell phone records for James’s cell phone place him in the location of the October 17, 2022, robbery at the time of the robbery.”
During the incident, the robbers ambushed the guard and both opened fire, striking him in the leg several times. According to the affidavit, the robbers stole $140,000, as well as the guard’s firearm.
A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Hobbs Act robbery offense alleged in the complaint carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, and the firearms offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI are conducting the investigation in this matter. The Gardena Police Department provided substantial assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Chemerinsky of the Violent and Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case.