2 men charged with shooting guard in armored car robbery in Harbor City

Two men were arrested Friday on suspicion of ambushing a Loomis guard, shooting him multiple times and stealing $140,000 in a brazen daytime robbery outside a Harbor City Bank of America branch on Monday.

Gregory James, 47, of San Pedro, and Lamond Akins, 30, of Compton, are accused of the surprise attack on the guard after he worked on ATMs at a Bank of America branch in Harbor City around 11:20 a.m. on Oct. 17, U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Thom Mrozek said. Surveillance video from the bank and from James’ home linked the two defendants to the robbery, according to prosecutors.

Investigators also linked Akins’ Chevy Malibu and James’ cell phone location to the Harbor City robbery, an affidavit states. The federal complaint says both men opened fire on the guard with semi-automatic pistols, shooting him multiple times in the leg, and stole his weapon and $140,000.

The two were charged with Hobbs Act robbery and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The Hobbs act makes it a federal crime to commit robbery in a way that interferes with interstate commerce.

Both men could face up to 30 years in federal prison if convicted.

Officials also are investigating James’ and Akins’ potential involvement in an Aug. 4 robbery outside the Hustler Casino in Gardena and a Sept. 27 robbery at a 7-Eleven store in Carson, according to the affidavit.

In the Hustler Casino robbery, two Loomis guards were ambushed and one was shot multiple times while making a cash delivery to the casino. The suspects fled in a white Honda Accord, but the affidavit noted a black Chevy Malibu “consistent with Akins’ vehicle” was also seen in use by the suspects.

In Carson, two Loomis guards were ambushed after putting cash into an ATM, and one was shot twice in the buttocks, the affidavit said.

Cell tower data showed James’ cell phone was using a tower in the area during both the Gardena and Carson robberies, the affidavit said.

How much was stolen in those cases was not stated in court documents.

Source: Orange County Register