HOUSTON—Two Houston men have entered guilty pleas in two unrelated cases involving the robbery of local armored cars, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

William Williams, 28, was convicted for his involvement in the Oct. 7, 2013, attempted robbery of a Garda Cash Logistics armored truck at the Chase Bank located at 19747 N. U.S. 59 in Humble. At the location, Williams approached an armored car 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. No money was obtained. The guard survived and has since recovered.

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.

Williams 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 at a hearing held yesterday before U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller. He is expected to face a 30-year-sentence at his sentencing hearing, set for Feb. 20, 2015.

In a separate and unrelated case, Effron Williams, 22, pleaded guilty to his role in the attempted robbery of an armored car operated by Garda Cash Logistics at the Chase Bank on 10411 North Freeway.

On March 10, 2014, Effron Williams approached the armored car guard, who was in the process of filling an ATM machine. Gun fire was exchanged, but no one was injured. No money was obtained.

Today, he 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 interference with commerce by robbery. He faces up to 20 years in prison for the robbery convictions as well as a minimum of 10 years for discharging a firearm. U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has set sentencing for Feb. 17, 2015.

Both William Williams and Effron Williams will remain in custody pending their respective sentences.

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.

Others charged in both cases remain pending. They are considered innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.

Both cases were investigated by the FBI’s Bank Robbery Task Force, Harris County Sherriff’s Office and Houston Police Department. The Humble Police Department also assisted in the investigation of the William Williams case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennie Basile is prosecuting both cases.