Two Plead Guilty in Garda Armored Car Heist

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of North Carolina
June 4, 2012

WILMINGTON—United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court today two defendants pled guilty to charges involving the armed robbery of an armored vehicle on June 23, 2011. Charles Richard Moore, Jr., 29, and Lenard Smith, 33, each pled guilty to Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951; and using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 924(c)(1)(A). Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox presided over the hearing. According to the indictment, on June 23, 2011, Moore and Smith, both from Timberlake, North Carolina, robbed the Garda armored vehicle of $1,210,440. At the time of the robbery, the vehicle was located adjacent to the Bank of America automated teller machine on Carolina Avenue in Washington, North Carolina.

A third participant in the robbery, Emmanuel Wallace, III, pled guilty to the same charges on April 23, 2012, and is scheduled for sentencing on August 6, 2012.

Sentencing is set for September 4, 2012. The maximum penalties for the robbery are up to 20 years’ imprisonment followed by up to three years’ supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. For the use of a firearm during the crime, the maximum penalties are up to a life-term imprisonment, with a mandatory sentence of seven years, consecutive to any other sentence imposed followed by up to five years’ supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. As part of their plea agreements, the defendants have agreed to assist in the recovery of the stolen money or property acquired with it.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Washington Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney John H. Bennett prosecuted the case.