Two Charged in Armored Car Robbery

An Indictment¹ was filed today charging defendants Anthony Reid, a/k/a “Spooks,” and Brian Williams, a/k/a “Jimmy,” with conspiracy to commit robbery which interfered with interstate commerce, robbery which interfered with interstate commerce, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and being convicted felons in possession of firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger. The indictment specifically charges that the defendants, who are both armed career criminals, with committing a gun-point robbery of an armored guard of Pendum LLC as the guard was making a cash delivery to the automated teller machines at the Sunoco APlus gas station and convenience store, located at 301 South 52nd Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 4, 2009, and then fleeing from police. During the flight from police, the defendants pointed and discharged firearms at police officers.

This investigation and prosecution was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a joint initiative by the United States Attorney’s Office, each of the nine District Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute dangerous firearms offenders in federal court, where the defendants are likely to receive a substantial sentence upon conviction. Recently, as an extension of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the United States Attorney’s Office, FBI, ATF, Philadelphia Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies have established the Hobbs Act Robbery Task Force to investigate and prosecute organized gangs and groups committing commercial armed robberies in this district.

If convicted of all counts, Reid and Williams each face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with a mandatory 25-year minimum sentence, a $1,000,000 fine, five years supervised release, and a $400 special assessment.

This case has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department. The case has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. Zaleski.

¹An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.