Three Arrested in Armed Robbery Heist that Occurred Outside Bank
Bank Security Guard Involved in Setting Up the Scheme
LOS ANGELES – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) working with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) have arrested three Antelope Valley residents in connection with an armed robbery that occurred earlier this year outside a Palmdale bank branch as a couple was picking up $200,000 in cash – a robbery that a bank security guard allegedly helped organize.
Jerry Wimbley Jr., aka “Poppa,” 21, of Lancaster, Roman Isaiah Smith, aka “Siete,” 24, of Lancaster, and Tyjana Grayes, 24, of Palmdale, were all arrested on charges alleged in a seven- count federal grand jury indictment.
All three defendants are charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act) and interference with commerce by robbery; and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of, and during a crime of violence. Wimbley is also charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and three counts of money laundering.
Wimbley was arrested Sept. 24 and is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 15 in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. A federal magistrate judge has ordered him jailed without bond. Smith is in custody with LASD on state murder charges. Grayes is expected to make her initial court appearances this afternoon.
According to the indictment, in January 2024, a couple deposited a check for $315,301 into a Chase Bank branch in Palmdale. Bank employees informed the couple that they would have to come back to pick up the cash - as the bank did not have that large amount of currency. The bank employee told the couple they would contact them when they could pick up the cash.
Grayes, a security guard for Chase Bank, allegedly learned of the planned cash pickup via another bank teller. Grayes informed Wimbley and Smith about the pickup so they could rob the victims.
On Feb. 9, 2024, defendants Wimbley and Smith allegedly drove to the Chase Bank and waited in the parking lot for hours while the victims obtained $200,000 from the Chase Bank. While working at Chase Bank, Grayes sent a series of text messages and phone calls to a co- conspirator regarding the location of the victims when they arrived at the bank. The co- conspirator relayed the information to Wimbley and Smith, so they could prepare to rob the victims.
As the couple was leaving the bank with the cash, Wimbley and Smith exited their vehicle with semiautomatic handguns, threatened to shoot the victims, and stole the money.
Beginning Feb. 10, 2024, and through March 8, 2024, Wimbley laundered the money at a local casino, according to a federal affidavit filed with a criminal complaint previously filed in this case. Wimbley purchased approximately $34,500 in gambling chips and cashed out approximately $168,700. During five of the visits to the casino, Wimbley cashed out approximately $89,700 without having purchased any chips during that visit.
In addition, on Sept. 18, 2024, Wimbley, a convicted felon, possessed a .40 caliber pistol and various types of ammunition.
If convicted of all charges, the defendants would each face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
ATF works with its local, state, and federal partners to investigate firearms-related charges and provide resources to reduce violent crime in our communities.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Butler and Gregg Marmaro are prosecuting this case.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
