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North Hollywood Man Charged in Armed Robbery Spree
LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley man has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with the attempted armed robbery of a Downey business – an attack in which a store employee pulled out a firearm and opened fire – as part of a series of armed robberies of other businesses in Los Angeles and Orange counties during a two-week crime spree earlier this year, the Justice Department announced today.
Antonio Bland, 34, of North Hollywood, is charged in a criminal complaint with one count of attempted interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act). Bland, who was in state custody until earlier this week, made his initial appearance on Wednesday in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles and was ordered jailed without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for June 10.
Complaints have also been filed against two other suspected accomplices, who also face attempted Hobbs Act robbery charges: Ronnie Tucker, 22, of Long Beach, who is expected to be transferred to federal custody in the coming weeks; and Abigail Luckey, 49, of North Hollywood, who was the alleged getaway driver in the February 14 robbery of the Downey donut shop. She was ordered released on bond in state court but has since failed to appear in court and is considered a fugitive.
According to an affidavit filed May 13 with the complaints, from January 29 to February 14, Bland and his accomplices are suspects in armed robberies of 11 other businesses: one smoke shop in Tustin, nine 7-Eleven stores in North Hollywood, Burbank, Torrance, Van Nuys, Long Beach, Glendale, Pasadena, and one donut shop in Los Angeles.
“We’ve seen too much violent gun crime in our community and it has to stop,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Our Operation Safe Cities initiative is intended to do just that. Violent criminals should take heed that federal and local partners are collaborating more than ever to ensure that there are consequences for those who engage in gun crime.”
The FBI is dedicated to working with local partners to pursue the most violent criminals wreaking havoc on our communities, said Krysti Hawkins, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. The public is urged to contact the FBI with any information regarding fugitive Abigail Luckey.
A Burbank police chief expressed appreciation for the ongoing partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office, which will go a long way in holding these individuals accountable for their alleged violent actions on our community.
The commercial robberies typically occurred late at night and usually involved two men who entered each business wearing hooded sweatshirts and face masks. In several of the robberies, a getaway driver waited outside for the subjects to complete the robbery and fled the scene in a white four-door sedan when the subjects returned to the vehicle.
The spree ended after Bland, along with two other individuals, committed an attempted armed robbery of a donut shop in Downey during the early morning hours of February 14, the affidavit states. The employee, fearing for his life, fired at least one shot at the suspects, hitting a wall of the building.
Law enforcement witnessed the attempted robbery and, shortly afterward, pulled over a car containing Bland and two other individuals. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to come forward.
The Justice Department and local law enforcement agencies have collaborated to bring these violent criminals to justice. It is a testament to the power of interagency cooperation and the commitment to making our communities safer.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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