AMARILLO, TEXAS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Texas, Northern), published as received.
AMARILLO, Texas — Three men who pleaded guilty to their respective roles in a December 2014 armored car heist in Amarillo, Texas, have been sentenced to lengthy federal prison sentences, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Britt Michael Gresham, 24, and Brian Keith Hodge, 43, were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson to 78 months and 63 months, respectively, in federal prison. Last week, co-conspirator Trent Michael Cook, 24, was sentenced by Judge Robinson to 97 months in federal prison. Each pleaded guilty in May 2015 to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery.
According to documents filed in the case, Cook purchased firearm that he, Gresham, and Hodge planned to use to rob the vault of Rochester Armored in Amarillo on December 20, 2014. The plan involved Cook using his status as an employee of Rochester Armored to gain access to the company vault that contained millions of dollars in U.S. currency, so that the three defendants could commit the armed robbery of the business. Cook and Gresham also purchased a van to load and transport bags of U.S. currency taken in the robbery.
Hodge further attempted to obtain a location in Colorado for the defendants to hide after the robbery; in fact, Cook and Gresham were arrested in Colorado Springs, Colorado. When questioned by a Colorado Springs Police Department detective, Cook admitted that he and Gresham stole the money from the Rochester armored car on December 22, 2014. Cook also admitted to initially agreeing with Gresham and Hodge to rob the Rochester vault on December 20, 2014. Cook admitted they were all armed with Smith and Wesson, Model M&P, 9-millimeter caliber pistols when they went to Rochester on December 20, 2014, to attempt the robbery. Cook said they were not able to complete the robbery because there were additional employees at Rochester that he did not expect to be there, and he notified Gresham and Hodge who were parked outside. Cook also said the white Ford van was to be used to load the money and other items to take to Colorado.
Court documents further state that after the defendants were unable to rob to vault, Cook and Gresham decided to steal money from a Rochester armored car, which they did.
The Amarillo Police Department, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the Potter County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Hammer prosecuted.
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