A former armored truck driver for Loomis pleaded guilty Monday to involvement in the theft of more than $1 million in cash, part of a shipment he was transporting for Bank of America in Los Angeles last year.
Cesar Yanez, 38, of Fontana entered his plea to conspiracy and bank larceny charges in connection with the June 27 robbery.
Under the plea agreement, Yanez is expected to be sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and make restitution of $970,000.
U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II set Aug. 10 for sentencing.
According to an updated indictment filed in Los Angeles federal court, Yanez and fellow Loomis driver Aldo Esquivel Vega, 28, of Pomona were transporting a multimillion-dollar shipment of cash for Bank of America when they stopped in a parking lot on West Adams Boulevard.
Vega electronically opened the rear doors of the armored car, which allowed Yanez to access the cash storage area of the vehicle, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Rhoades.
Yanez then took about $1 million in cash from the armored car and placed it into a trash can that had allegedly been left in the parking by his wife, Leticia Yanez, who later picked up the can and recovered the stolen money, the indictment states.
Later, family friend Jovita Medina Guzman, 39, of San Bernardino delivered some of the stolen money to Vega, federal prosecutors allege.
During search warrants executed at the Yanez home, agents said they found about $90,000 in cash, according to the indictment.
Leticia Yanez and Vega are each charged with conspiracy and bank larceny. Guzman is charged with possession of bank larceny proceeds and being an accessory after the fact to hinder and prevent their co-defendants’ apprehension, trial and punishment.
If convicted of all charges, Vega, Leticia Yanez and Guzman — who are scheduled to stand trial in July — each could receive prison terms of up to 15 years.
According to Rhoades, the FBI received a tip, leading to an undercover operation and resulting the arrests last November.
—City News Service