E. Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
A federal grand jury has indicted two San Fernando Valley residents and one Long Beach resident on charges of armed robbery across Southern California. The indictment includes allegations of a series of robberies targeting smoke shops, donut shops, and convenience stores in Los Angeles and Orange counties over a two-week period last year.
The defendants, Antonio Lamar Bland, 36, of North Hollywood; Ronnie Tucker, 23, of Long Beach; and Abigail Luckey, 49, of North Hollywood, face multiple charges. These include conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery. Additionally, Bland and Tucker are charged with an extra count of Hobbs Act robbery and four counts related to brandishing a firearm during a crime. Bland faces further charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Their arraignment is anticipated soon in the United States District Court in Los Angeles. A trial date is set for May 6. All three have been detained since last year.
"Members of the community should not have to think about being subjected to violence when they walk into a convenience store or business," stated Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. "Violent crime is a top priority for the US Attorney’s Office."
Assistant Director Akil Davis from the FBI Los Angeles Field Office emphasized the trauma inflicted on victims during such crimes: "Any time someone takes a gun into a place of business to rob it, victims are traumatized." He added that if convicted, the defendants could face significant prison time.
Burbank Police Chief Michael Albanese acknowledged the extensive investigation: “Investigators from the Burbank Police Department spent hundreds of hours investigating this robbery series.”
The indictment details that between January 29 and February 14 last year, Bland, Tucker, and Luckey allegedly robbed 12 businesses across various locations including Tustin, North Hollywood, Burbank, Torrance, Van Nuys, Long Beach, Glendale, Pasadena, Los Angeles, and Downey.
These robberies often occurred late at night with Bland and Tucker reportedly entering businesses wearing hooded sweatshirts and masks while Luckey acted as their getaway driver. On February 6 last year amid these events, Bland and Luckey traveled to Las Vegas to marry before returning for another alleged robbery.
The spree concluded with an attempted robbery at a Downey donut shop on February 14 where an employee fired his weapon in self-defense after noticing what appeared to be a handgun with one suspect. Law enforcement apprehended the trio shortly thereafter retrieving a firearm from their vehicle.
Bland's past felony convictions bar him from legally possessing firearms or ammunition which he allegedly had during this period.
If found guilty on all counts each defendant could face up to 20 years per Hobbs Act charge while Bland faces additional penalties related to firearm possession due to his criminal history.
Operation Safe Cities focuses on prosecuting key drivers behind violent crime aiming at reducing offenses involving illicit firearms or organized thefts affecting retail sectors significantly damaging public safety across regions through strategic enforcement priorities aimed at arresting repeat offenders involved heavily dangerous activities
This case is under investigation by several police departments alongside FBI assistance while prosecution falls under Assistant United States Attorneys Diane Roldan & J’me K Forrest handling general crimes & violent organized crime sections respectively
