Five Guilty in Shooting Death of Brinks Guard at Calder Casino

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Michael B. Steinbach, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; and Matthew Boyd, Chief, Miami Gardens Police Department, announce the conviction by plea and trial of Vladimir Louissant, 26, of Miami Gardens; Reginald Mitchell, 28, of Miami Gardens; Uri Ammar, 27, of Hollywood; Victoria Barkley, 27, of Miami Gardens; and Byron Kyler, 24, of Miami, in connection with the August 21, 2011 shooting death of a Brinks guard at the Calder Casino and Race Course (Calder) in North Miami, Florida.

More specifically, Louissant and Mitchell pled guilty before trial and are facing a possible maximum statutory sentence of up to life in prison. Kyler and Barkley also pled guilty and are facing a possible statutory maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Ammar was convicted after trial on October 15, 2012. He faces a possible maximum statutory sentence of up to life in prison. Sentencing has not been scheduled yet.

According to documents filed with the court and evidence presented during trial, on August 21, 2011, Mitchell and Ammar conspired to rob a Brinks guard as he made a scheduled pick-up at Calder. Mitchell and Ammar both worked security at Calder, where Ammar was a security shift manager. Mitchell recruited co-defendants Louissant, Barkley, and Kyler. On the day of the murder, Mitchell drove Louissant to Calder in Kyler’s truck, which Kyler had falsely reported stolen.

According to the trial evidence, Ammar escorted the Brinks guard through the Calder facility and led him to an open area, where Louissant was waiting. As Ammar and the guard entered the open area, Louissant rushed at the guard, brandishing a firearm. When the guard drew his weapon, Louissant shot the guard and the two exchange gunfire. After shooting the guard, Louissant grabbed the Brinks money bag and fled to Kyler’s truck. Mitchell and Louissant then drove a short distance in Kyler’s truck, which they abandoned to be driven away from the scene by Barkley in another vehicle.

Mr. Ferrer commended the FBI and Miami Gardens Police Department for their work on this case. Mr. Ferrer also thanked the members of the FBI’s South Florida Violent Crimes and Fugitive Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Gilfarb and Seth Schlessinger.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.