The FBI and other agencies are searching for six suspected armored-car robbers they say stole $550,000-plus in the last year in Hawthorne, Inglewood and South Los Angeles.
A seventh suspect, Deneyvous Hobson, 36, of Los Angeles, was arrested on Feb. 21.
One of the six fugitives, authorities said, is James Russell Davis, 34, of Los Angeles, Hobson’s half-brother.
At a press conference in West Los Angeles on Thursday, March 2, authorities asked for the public’s help in identifying the five unknown fugitives and capturing all six.
The group is accused of five robberies.
“This group has targeted ATMs and other businesses, including check-cashing locations,” said Don Alway, FBI assistant director in charge of the Los Angeles Office. “The suspects (operate) by overtaking the armored-car driver while they service drive-thru ATMs or exit businesses. The victim drivers have been zip tied and detained as they are held at gunpoint while being robbed.”
Law enforcement calls the seven, and others if they exist, the Chesapeake Bandits, because investigators say they belief the suspects met and planned robberies from a home in the 2900 block of Chesapeake Avenue in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles.
“Clearly they are using some kind of intelligence to make their decisions,” Alway said. “There’s a lot of cash involved, and they’re picking their targets accordingly.”
Multiple firearms were used in the five robberies. One was a sawed-off AR-15-type firearm with a scope.
No injuries have been reported, although Hobson fired a shot during one robbery, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said.
Both Hobson and Davis were charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, Estrada said.
The last robbery was on Saturday, Feb. 25. One was in Hawthorne, another was in Inglewood and three were in South Los Angeles.
In three robberies alone, the bandits made out with nearly $570,000. Amounts for the…
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