Thread: Couple steals $8 million because "they wanted a better

Ohio couple admits to $8 million robbery
‘I wanted a better life,’ woman says in explaining armored car firm heist
The Associated Press
updated 8:51 p.m. ET, Mon., Jan. 28, 2008
CLEVELAND - A couple accused of stealing millions of dollars from an armored car company did it to escape financial hardships, the woman told the FBI in court documents disclosed Monday.

Roger Dillon, 23, and his girlfriend, Nicole Boyd, 25, both of Youngstown, are charged with bank larceny and other counts in the Nov. 26 heist from AT Systems in Liberty, just north of Youngstown.

The amount stolen was just under $8.4 million, including $6.7 million in cash and the rest in checks. Authorities until Monday had reported the theft at a total of $7.4 million, including $4.3 million in cash.

The couple's motive was to escape financial problems, including thousands of dollars of debt, Boyd said in her statement to the FBI, signed Dec. 1.

"I knew taking the money from AT Systems was wrong, but I wanted a better life," she said in the statement, read by FBI agent Guy Hunneyman at a bond hearing in U.S. District Court.

All but $3,500 was recovered, Hunneyman said. The cash and checks were found stacked in a mobile home where the couple fled about 250 miles away in Pipestem, W.Va.

According to their statements, they made several trips to West Virginia in the weeks before the robbery to rent the trailer, buy heating oil for it and stock it with supplies, books and video games.

"I told my mom about a week beforehand ... and told her she should come with us," Dillon wrote.

His mother, Sharon Lee Gregory, tried to talk him out of it, he added. Boyd and Dillon are charged with bank larceny, and all three are charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines.

When the armored car company had cash from the busy post-Thanksgiving holiday shopping weekend, Dillon entered the building using another employee's security code, his statement said.

He pulled a truck into a garage and loaded it with bags. Boyd helped, Boyd's statement said. They made one stop on the way to West Virginia — at a McDonald's restaurant, where they disposed of their cell phones.

Magistrate Judge Kenneth McHargh said he would rule on bond for Boyd and Dillon's mother after their attorneys tell him of where they will live. They have been held without bond since their Dec. 1 arrests.

Kirk Migdao, an attorney for Boyd, told the magistrate that evidence against his client seemed strong but that she should be released on bond because she has no criminal record and no weapon was used in the robbery.

James Campbell, an attorney for Gregory, argued that his client wasn't responsible for the theft and naively went along with her son. She had left for West Virginia before the robbery, Campbell said.

Dillon's attorney, Brian Pierce, didn't challenge statements read in court.

The three have pleaded not guilty. They face up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. They have no prior criminal records.


© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22887939?gt1=10755

All this fuss over one undocumented withdrawal.

"I wanted a better life". A common theme among those who ignore the law and think nothing is illegal as long as "they get theirs" no matter who is hurt or what society thinks.

Well now I want an answer from all those pro-illegal loving people out there. SHOULD THESE BANK ROBBERS GET AMNESTY? They only wanted a better life???? COME ON I KNOW YOUR OUT THERE LURKING IN THE SHADOWS OF ALIPAC, GIVE ME AN ANSWER!

Now now judge, you can't send them to jail for this undocumented withdrawl because it will seperate their family and their kids will face hardships and you will be labeled a racist xenophoebic puke face.
After all, they just needed a better life too. Don't they have a "right" to a better life just like the illegals?

What I find amazing is her statement of, "We just wanted a better life."
It almost makes me wonder if they were using this excuse because illegal law breakers are getting away with it.

Ya know, the sad irony about this is we've joked about this in many different posts, and now it's happened!

Amnesty for bank robbers!

These young workers just wanted a better life.

They should be allowed to pay a fine and keep the money!

They could not afford to wait to earn that money in life.

W

If the Congress impliments an amnesty for Illegals, then we can expect more of these actions. When is Illegal not illegal? When the perpetrator gets rewarded with amnesty!

"We don't need no stinkin' rules..."

Moving to 'Other News...' section

What's going to happen to their innocent children if they go to jail? It's not fair to seperate a family when all they were trying to do was make a better life for their children!