ATLANTA, GA – Seven members of an Atlanta-based robbery crew are facing serious time after being sentenced for their roles in the brazen February 2015 armed robbery of a Wells Fargo branch in the Virginia-Highland neighborhood. The crew stormed the bank at the height of the morning rush, terrorizing employees and customers before leading police on a reckless, high-speed chase through metro Atlanta.
According to U.S. Attorney John Horn, the robbers – Bruce Brown, Kayode Philip Adeleye, and Ryan Vincent Hill – entered the bank on February 27, 2015, armed and masked. Adeleye immediately vaulted over the teller counter, brandishing a loaded handgun and threatening to kill a teller if the safe wasn’t opened. Another teller was forced to the ground at gunpoint. The trio ultimately stole $22,343.40 in cash. “This robbery crew targeted a bank at one of the busiest pedestrian thoroughfares in the city,” Horn stated. “The robbers compounded their violence by leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase throughout metro Atlanta at speeds topping 170 miles per hour.”
The escape was anything but clean. The crew initially fled in a rental SUV with stolen tags, then switched vehicles twice with the help of accomplices Xavier Cornelius Shields, Connie Cristobul Montoya, and Joe Francisco Montoya. Law enforcement, including officers from the Atlanta and DeKalb County police departments, the Georgia State Patrol, and the FBI, pursued the robbers in a Mercedes AMG sports car driven by Hill, reaching speeds of 170 mph. While they weren’t apprehended during the chase, a subsequent search of a residence in Ellenwood, Georgia, recovered most of the stolen money and other crucial evidence.
“I can’t imagine the terror those innocent victims inside the bank felt,” said David J. LeValley, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “We are extremely fortunate that no one was physically hurt or killed in this rage of violence.” LeValley added that the suspects’ disregard for the safety of bank employees, customers, and motorists was “reprehensible.” The investigation revealed that Hill and Adeleye led the crew, with Brown participating directly in the armed robbery. Shields, C. Montoya, and J. Montoya provided crucial support by supplying switch cars and acting as lookouts. Paris Lashay Paggett assisted in concealing evidence after the crime.
The seven individuals have now been sentenced for their involvement. Details of each sentence were not immediately available, but authorities confirm that the convictions and lengthy sentences are intended to prevent future violence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not released specifics on each defendant’s individual charges, but it is understood that they include counts related to armed robbery, conspiracy, and fleeing from law enforcement. This case underscores the serious consequences of violent crime and the dedication of federal and local agencies to bring perpetrators to justice.
Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as sentencing details become available. This brazen act of violence serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by everyday citizens and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement to protect our communities. The crew’s actions were a calculated risk that ultimately failed, leaving them to face the full weight of the law.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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