Chesapeake bandit from West Adams sentenced to 166 months in prison for armored truck theft

Man ordered to pay restitution for role in $160,000 robbery involving gun discharge

A member of the Chesapeake Bandits was sentenced to 166 months in federal prison for acting as a lookout during an armed robbery of an armored truck that netted the group more than $160,000 and involved the firing of a gun.

James Russell Davis, 35, of the West Adams section of Los Angeles, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha. Davis was also ordered to pay $166,640 in restitution. He pleaded guilty on February 16 to charges of obstructing commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act) and discharging a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. He has been in federal custody since March 2023.

“When people commit crimes with guns, tragedies happen,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “That’s why it’s so important that we bear the brunt of federal prosecutions of violent gun crime perpetrators.” My office is committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to make our cities safer.

“Imagine the terror of being pulled to the ground with a gun pointed at your head. Davis and his accomplices violently ambushed an individual who was simply doing his job so they could abscond with other people's money,” said Krysti Hawkins, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. . “This significant sentence cannot undo the emotional and psychological damage inflicted on the victim, but we hope it sends a clear message that we will continue to pursue the most violent and persistent offenders and hold them accountable for their blatant disregard for human life and safety. of our communities.

“I am proud of the work and dedication of our investigators and the unwavering support of the U.S. Attorney's Office as we work together to stop the criminals who are taking away the sense of safety in our communities,” said the Los Angeles Police Chief. Angeles, Dominic H. Choi.

In February 2022, Davis and a co-conspirator explored a credit union in Hawthorne and planned to ambush the truck driver after servicing an ATM. A few weeks later, they executed their plan. Davis maintained surveillance while his partners, armed with an AR-style rifle and a semi-automatic handgun, ambushed the driver. One of the conspirators put a gun to the victim's head, forced him to the ground and took his service pistol. The thieves stole bags containing $166,640 in cash. During the robbery, a co-conspirator fired a handgun.

Deneyvous Jayan Hobson, 38, also of West Adams and the main defendant, has pleaded not guilty to the following charges: conspiracy under the Hobbs Act, robbery under the Hobbs Act, use of a firearm to commit a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. His trial is set for September 3.

Operation Safe Cities targets key drivers of violent crime, focusing on prosecuting the most violent offenders. This approach aims to improve public safety by targeting crimes involving illicit weapons and robbery crews.

The FBI, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and Hawthorne Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler, Jena A. MacCabe, and Jason C. Pang are prosecuting.