A former armored car driver and two accomplices who stole $510,000 from an armored car on Long Island in November 2018 have been sentenced to prison.
On February 19, 2020, Alexis Laguerra, Raymond Soto Jr., and Raymond Soto Sr. were sentenced to 30 months, 33 months, and 18 months in prison, respectively.
U.S. District Judge Sandra Feuerstein also ordered the defendants to forfeit $300,000 and pay restitution of $510,000 to the armored car company.
The armored car heist
Laguerra worked for GardaWorld, a Montreal-based armored car company.
On the night of the robbery, Laguerra was the driver, and his partner was the messenger. Their job was to empty ATM machines at bank branches and to refill them with “fresh money”.
Laguerra exchanged text messages with Soto Jr. throughout the night of the theft.
At 9:52 p.m., Laguerra sent a text message to Soto Jr. stating that he would be at the HSBC Bank at 260 West Sunrise Highway in Valley Stream, New York, around 2 – 3 a.m.
Laguerra texted Soto Jr. when he was 40 minutes away from the bank, when he arrived, and when it was time for Soto Jr. to steal the armored car.
Laguerra left the door of the armored car open while he and his partner entered the bank.
Soto Sr. was driving a black Range Rover when he dropped off his son near the bank around 2:00 – 2:30 a.m. Soto Jr. stole the armored car from the parking lot adjacent to the bank and abandoned it at the same location where his father had dropped him off. Soto Jr. walked a short distance with a large duffel bag over his shoulder then drove away with his father.
They made off with $510,000 in cash.
Soto Jr. instructed Laguerra to destroy his SIM card and throw away his cellphone, but he kept it and investigators were able to retrieve the incriminating text messages.
All three men were members of the Unknown Bikers Motorcycle Club, according to prosecutors. Soto Sr. was the club’s president, Soto Jr. was the club’s enforcer, and Laguerra was a prospect at the time of the robbery.
Soto Jr. served more than two years in state prison for gang assault.
The guilty pleas
Laguerra, Soto Jr., and Soto Sr. each pled guilty to one count of bank larceny in April 2019. Bank larceny carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Laguerra and Soto Jr. were also originally charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice for attempting to destroy evidence relating to the theft.
The defendants’ sentencing submissions
Laguerra said that he felt obligated to help his best friend—Soto Jr.—because his life was in danger. He said that Soto Jr. saved his life when he was robbed at gunpoint for a silver chain in 2013.
Soto Jr. said that he became involved in the armored car robbery scheme because he was the victim of an armed robbery in 2018. He was selling cocaine and marijuana at the time, and the thieves stole $200,000 worth of drugs that didn’t belong to him. His supplier demanded payment and threatened Soto Jr. and his family.
Authorities found illegal drugs, evidence of drug sales, and a gun when they searched the Sotos’ residence in Richmond Hill, Queens.
Soto Sr. attempted to minimize his role in the scheme. He pointed out that his son was the organizer, while he only “gave his son a ride”. Soto Sr. also claimed that he did not financially benefit from the robbery.
Authorities recovered $130,000 from the Sotos’ residence. The rest of the money is still missing.