FBI offers up to  $25,000 reward for 'Chesapeake Bandits' responsible for series of armored car robberies

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information on the "Chesapeake Bandits," a group responsible for a series of armored car robberies.

"In some of the instances, defendants Hobson and his half brother Davis were observed casing the victims weeks in advance of the robberies," U.S. Atty. Martin Estrada said at a news conference at the FBI’s Los Angeles headquarters in Westwood, KABC reported Saturday.

The Chesapeake Bandits are so named because investigators believe they hatched their plans from a home on Chesapeake Avenue in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles.

They have reportedly been robbing Brinks armored vehicles from February 2022 to February 2023, and have made off with $500,000 so far in five armed heists.

Authorities nabbed one of the alleged ringleaders, 36-year-old Deneyvous Hobson, February 21. The second ringleader, 34-year-old James Russell Davis, is still on the loose, as are five others believed to be part of the group, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Davis is known to be affiliated with the West Blvd. Crips. The Crips are a notorious street gang based in Los Angeles.

"The defendants in this case and the other co-conspirators are heavily armed and pointed their weapons at the victims," Estrada also said.

The group allegedly operate by "overtaking the armored car drivers when they service drive-thru ATMs or exit businesses," according to the FBI.

"They zip tie the driver while holding them at gunpoint, enter the armored vehicle, and steal the money," the FBI also says, adding that on on occasion, a shot was fired, but no one was injured.

The FBI warns that the individuals should be considered armed and dangerous. They encourage anyone with information to contact the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Other contact options include local FBI offices, the nearest American embassy or consulate, or using online tip submission at tips.fib.gov.

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