LOS ANGELES—Three individuals from the Antelope Valley area were taken into custody in connection with an armed robbery that occurred earlier this year outside a Palmdale bank branch. The incident took place as a couple was picking up $200,000 in cash, with allegations suggesting that a bank security guard helped organize the heist, officials revealed on Wednesday.
Those arrested include Jerry Wimbley Jr., 21, from Lancaster, Roman Isaiah Smith, 24, also from Lancaster, and Tyjana Grayes, 24, from Palmdale. They face charges outlined in a seven-count federal grand jury indictment, as reported by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The trio is accused of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and interference with commerce by robbery, along with brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Wimbley is further charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, as well as three counts of money laundering, according to the ATF.
Wimbley was apprehended on Sept. 24 and is set to be arraigned on Oct. 15 in Los Angeles federal court. A federal magistrate judge previously ordered him to be held without bail. Smith is currently in custody on state murder charges, while Grayes is expected to make her initial federal court appearance later on Wednesday.
According to the indictment, in January, a couple deposited a check for $315,301 at a Chase Bank branch in Palmdale. The bank informed them that they would need to return to collect the cash, as the bank did not have that amount of currency on hand. Subsequently, the bank employee assured the couple they would be contacted when the cash was ready for pickup.
Grayes, who worked as a security guard for Chase Bank, allegedly got wind of the planned cash pickup through another bank teller. Prosecutors claim that Grayes informed Wimbley and Smith about the pickup so they could carry out the robbery.
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Federal prosecutors further allege that on Feb. 9, Wimbley and Smith drove to the Chase branch and waited in the parking lot for hours while the victims obtained $200,000 from the bank.
While on duty, Grayes exchanged a series of text messages and phone calls with a co-conspirator regarding the whereabouts of the victims when they arrived at the bank. The co-conspirator then relayed this information to Wimbley and Smith, enabling them to prepare for the robbery, federal prosecutors assert.
As the couple exited the bank with the cash, Wimbley and Smith reportedly emerged from their vehicle armed with semiautomatic handguns. They allegedly threatened the victims with violence and stole the money, according to court documents.
Starting from Feb. 10 and continuing until March 8, Wimbley is said to have laundered the stolen money at a local casino, as per a federal affidavit accompanying a criminal complaint. Wimbley purportedly purchased approximately $34,500 in gambling chips and cashed out around $168,700. During five visits to the casino, it is believed that Wimbley cashed out about $89,700 without making any chip purchases.
Moreover, on Sept. 18, Wimbley, a convicted felon, was found in possession of a .40 caliber pistol and various types of ammunition, according to the ATF.
If found guilty as charged, the defendants could potentially face life imprisonment in federal prison, prosecutors noted.
