Former Chase security guard, Tyjana Grayes, along with two other individuals, has been arrested in connection with an alleged armed robbery that resulted in a bank heist totalling $200,000. Grayes, aged 24 from Antelope Valley, California, was working as a private security guard at a Palmade bank branch when she reportedly received information from a teller about a couple planning to deposit a $315,300 check in January and later withdraw $200,000 in cash from the bank.
Authorities claim that Grayes enlisted the help of two other suspects, Jerry Wimbley Jr (also known as Poppa) and Roman Smith (also known as Siete), in executing the heist. A fourth individual, an unidentified co-conspirator, was allegedly involved in the plan as well. This co-conspirator was approached by Grayes to locate the couple withdrawing the money, leading to Wimbley and Smith being briefed on robbing the victims.
On February 9, as the couple attempted to withdraw their money from the bank, Grayes reportedly monitored the situation and corresponded with the co-conspirator via text messages. Wimbley and Smith waited in the bank’s parking lot and, armed with semi-automatic handguns, threatened the couple after they left the bank with the $200,000, ultimately stealing the money.
Investigations suggest that Wimbley attempted to launder the stolen funds by exchanging $34,500 for gambling chips at the Commerce Casino and Hotel in Commerce, California, proceeding to cash out $168,700 between February 10 and March 8. All three suspects were apprehended by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), with Wimbley being booked on September 24.
Grayes and Smith’s arrest dates have not been specified by authorities. The specific details surrounding the arrests of the three suspects remain unclear, and enquiries made by The Independent to the LASD for additional information are pending.
The trio – Grayes, Wimbley, and Smith – are scheduled to appear in court this month, facing charges that include conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, interference with commerce by robbery, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Wimbley also faces charges of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, along with three counts of money laundering. Should they be convicted on all counts, each defendant could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.