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Press Release

South L.A. Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Commit Armed Robberies of Half a Dozen Businesses in Two-Week Crime Spree

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California

          LOS ANGELES – A South Los Angeles man pleaded guilty today to a federal conspiracy charge and admitted to committing six armed robberies of businesses, mostly 7-Eleven stores, during a two-week crime spree late last year.

          Colin Powell Lacey, 28, of the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act).

          According to his plea agreement, from November 13, 2021, to November 29, 2021, Lacey participated in the robbery of six businesses – five of which were 7-Eleven convenience stores. During the robberies, Lacey typically entered the stores, pointed a handgun at the store’s cashier and stole money – usually hundreds of dollars in cash belonging to the business.

          For example, on November 29, 2021, Lacey and his co-conspirator, Kyle Richard Williams, 25, of Inglewood, traveled together to a smoke shop located in the Mid-City area of Los Angeles. Williams entered the store, pointed a handgun at the cashier and stole $442 while Lacey waited outside the store before fleeing with Williams.

          That same night, Lacey and Williams robbed 7-Eleven stores in Hollywood and Mid-City, with Lacey pointing a handgun at the cashier at the Hollywood store and Williams pointing a handgun at the cashier at the Mid-City business, making off with $600 and $100, respectively. Lacey and Williams then fled in Lacey’s Hyundai.

          On December 30, 2021, Lacey and Williams attempted to rob a 7-Eleven in El Segundo. Williams pointed a handgun at the store employee and demanded money. Lacey and Williams fled together after the employee showed Williams that the cash register was empty.

          In total, Lacey admitted to participating in the armed robbery of six stores, including two other 7-Elevens in Hollywood and one 7-Eleven in West Hollywood. Lacey and Williams netted a total of $2,859 from the robberies.

          Lacey and Williams have been in federal custody since March 2022.

          United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong scheduled a November 4 sentencing hearing for Lacey, at which time he will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

          Williams pleaded guilty on July 29 to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 9, at which time he will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each Hobbs Act robbery count.

          The FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department’s Major Crimes Bureau Metro Detail investigated this matter.

          Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremiah M. Levine and Jeffrey M. Chemerinsky of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case.

Contact

Ciaran McEvoy
Public Information Officer
ciaran.mcevoy@usdoj.gov
(213) 894-4465

Updated August 26, 2022

Topic
Violent Crime
Press Release Number: 22-166