A series of bold daylight heists in Los Angeles, involving gang members robbing armored trucks at gunpoint and making off with millions of dollars, have been compared to scenes from a Hollywood movie. However, law enforcement recently cracked down on the criminal activities.
The meticulously planned robberies occurred across the city over the span of two years. The thieves, donning ski masks and wielding AR-15 assault weapons, targeted vehicles transporting bags of cash to and from banks, fast-food restaurants, markets, and credit unions.
During the heists, known as the “Chesapeake Bandits” and now associated with the Crips and Black P Stone gangs, security guards were forced to the ground at gunpoint, restrained with zip ties, and money was swiftly taken from the armored vehicles before the perpetrators fled within seconds.
The Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI, in a joint investigation, determined that the group orchestrated the robberies from a residence on Chesapeake Avenue in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles, earning them the moniker “Chesapeake Bandits.”
FBI Assistant Director Donald Alway stated that the criminals conducted extensive surveillance on the targeted locations using multiple vehicles and personnel leading up to the meticulously executed heists.
The group had designated drivers who remained in their vehicles during the robberies, ensuring a quick getaway. The victims, who were security guards in each case, were threatened at gunpoint with heavily armed weapons.
Several of the suspects had prior connections from their time served in state prison, as revealed in court records.
In the past year, federal prosecutors charged key suspects Deneyvous Hobson, 36, and James Russell Davis, 34, who were involved in the heists. Davis, a member of the West Boulevard Crips, and Hobson, affiliated with the Black P Stones, were identified as part of the criminal operation.
Despite the arrests of these suspected leaders, the group continued its crime spree. Another suspect was found dead under suspicious circumstances, while a fourth was killed by police while attempting to flee a raid.
The crew’s first known heist occurred in Feb 2022 when they targeted an armored car driver at a Wescom Credit Union in Hawthorne, making off with $166,640 in cash, checks, and the victim’s weapon.
Subsequent robberies took place outside a Bank of America branch in Inglewood, a 99 Cents Only Store on Crenshaw Boulevard, and a check-cashing business at the intersection of La Brea Avenue and Adams Boulevard.
In one incident, the bandits targeted a Brinks armored car driver at a 7-Eleven, followed by another robbery at a Taco Bell where they stole the truck after threatening the driver with an AR-15 assault rifle.
The final known heist involved a Brinks driver being robbed while filling ATMs in South Los Angeles. Investigations linked the suspects to other criminal associates, including members of the West Boulevard Crips.
One of the suspects, Jadie Lee Young Jr, a former convict and gang member, was found dead before his arrest, leading to further inquiries into the broader criminal network.
Further investigation implicated Zeff Rocco, an East Coast Crip with a history of criminal activities, in connection with the heists. A SWAT team apprehended Rocco after a standoff at his apartment building, during which he was fatally shot while armed with an assault rifle.
Another suspect, Disaac Jones, was arrested based on DNA evidence found at the crime scenes. Jones pleaded not guilty to robbery charges and was released on bond while awaiting trial.
Davis admitted to his involvement in the robberies and is facing sentencing, while Hobson maintains his innocence and is scheduled for trial later this year.
