AMARILLO, TX—Three men who were charged with various felony offenses stemming from an alleged heist of money from an armored car on December 22, 2014, in Amarillo, Texas, appeared in federal court yesterday, before U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson, and pleaded guilty to their respective roles, announced John Parker, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Trent Michael Cook, 24, Britt Michael Gresham, 24, and Cook’s father, Brian Keith Hodge, 43, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. Each faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for August 4, 2015.

According to documents filed in the case, Cook purchased firearms that Cook, Gresham, and Hodge planned to use to rob the vault of Rochester Armored in Amarillo on December 20, 2014. The plan involved Cook using his status as an employee of Rochester Armored to gain access to the company vault that contained millions of dollars in U.S. currency so that the three defendants could commit the armed robbery of Rochester Armored. Cook and Gresham also purchased a van to load and transport bags of U.S. currency taken from Rochester Armored.

Hodge further attempted to obtain a location in Colorado for the defendants to hide after the robbery; in fact, Cook and Gresham were arrested in Colorado Springs, Colorado. When questioned by a Colorado Springs Police Department detective, Cook admitted that he and Gresham stole the money from the Rochester armored car on December 22, 2014. Cook also admitted to initially agreeing with Gresham and Hodge to rob the Rochester vault, which they planned to do on December 20, 2014. Cook admitted they were all armed with Smith and Wesson, Model M&P, 9 millimeter caliber pistols when they went to Rochester on December 20, 2014 to attempt the robbery. Cook said they were not able to complete the robbery because there were additional employees at Rochester that he did not expect, and he notified Gresham and Hodge who were parked outside. Cook also said the white Ford Van was to be used to load up the money and other items to take to Colorado.

Court documents further state that after the defendants were not able to rob the vault, Cook and Gresham decided to steal money from a Rochester armored car, which they did.

The Amarillo Police Department, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the Potter County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Hammer is in charge of the prosecution.