May 14, 2015

Three Sentenced for Armored Car Robberies

HOUSTON—William Williams, 29, Stephen Carter 29, and Bobby Gray, 28, all of Houston, have been ordered to federal prison for their involvement in the Oct. 7, 2013, attempted robbery of a Garda Cash Logistics armored truck, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. During the attempted robbery, a guard was shot eight times, but has since recovered.

Williams had pleaded guilty to one count of discharging of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and two counts of interference with commerce by robbery. Today, U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller ordered he serve a total of 30 years in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. The other two men were both convicted of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and two counts of interference with commerce by robbery. Gray and Carter will serve respective sentences of 100 and 108 months in prison and were further ordered to serve three years of supervised release following completion of their prison terms.

At the hearing, the injured guard testified, explaining that he and his family “almost lost everything.” He testified that it has been a trying time for himself and his family and that he has had to learn to walk again. He continues with physical therapy, is working again and said he is grateful to be alive.

The attempted robbery occurred at the Chase Bank located at 19747 N. U.S. 59 in Humble. At the location, Williams approached the guard who was in the process of filling an ATM machine. He asked the guard for money and shot the guard eight times in the back. Carter was the driver and it was Gray’s job to retrieve the money. No money was obtained.

Williams was also involved in a prior armored car robbery on Aug. 13, 3013, during which he pointed a gun at a Loomis guard at the Movie Tavern located at 15719 North Freeway in Houston.

Loomis Armored U.S. Inc. and Garda Cash Logistics., who operated the trucks during the robbery and robbery attempts, maintain offices throughout the United States and was engaged in the business of secured armored transport of United States currency in interstate commerce and in picking up and delivering United States currency to financial institutions and check cashing businesses, both of which are industries which affect interstate commerce.

Previously released on bond, Carter was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Williams and Gray have been and will remain in custody.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force, police departments in Humble and Houston and Harris County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennie Basile is prosecuting both cases.