FIVE CHARGED FOR THE ROBBERY AND SHOOTING DEATH OF BRINKS GUARD
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Matthew Boyd, Chief, Miami Gardens Police Department, and the members of the South Florida Violent Crime and Fugitive Task Force, announced the filing of a criminal complaint against five individuals for their participation in the August 21, 2011 robbery and shooting death of a Brinks guard at Calder Race Track and Casino in Miami Gardens. Charged in the complaint are defendants Reginald Mitchell, 26, of Miami Gardens, Byron Kyler, 23, of Miami, Vladimir Louissant, 33, of Pembroke Pines, Victoria Barkley (Mitchell’s girlfriend), 26, of Miami Gardens, and Uri Ammar, 26, of Hollywood. The defendants were arrested yesterday and are expected to make their initial appearances in federal court today at 1:30 P.M. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen T. Brown.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on August 21, 2011, defendant Mitchell, an employee Calder Race Track and Casino, met with co-defendants Louissant, Barkely and Kyler to discuss and plan the robbery of a Brinks armored car at Calder Race Track. During this meeting, Kyler agreed to lend his truck for the commission of the robbery. Also during the meeting, Mitchell gave Louissant a gun. In accordance with the defendants’ plan, Barkely then drove defendants Mitchell and Louissant to pick up defendant Kyler’s truck, which was to be used to commit the robbery. Mitchell then drove himself and Louissant in Kyler’s truck to the Calder Race Track.
When Louissant and Mitchell arrived at the Calder Race Track, the victim Brinks guard was walking back to the Brinks truck carrying a bag full of money. The victim guard was being escorted by defendant Uri Ammar, another employee at Calder. At this time, Louissant, armed with a gun, approached the victim. The Brinks guard drew his weapon and fired at Louissant. Louissant, in turn, fired twice at the victim. Louissant then grabbed the bag with money and ran to the getaway truck, being driven by Mitchell. Mitchell drove away from the scene to a designated spot where Barkley picked them up in a second getaway car. After the getaway, Louissant went to the hospital for treatment of his wound, while Mitchell and Barkley hid some of the stolen money, discarded clothing, the money bag and other items, and then used some of the stolen money to gamble at the Seminole Hardrock Hotel and Casino. The victim Brinks guard subsequently died at the hospital from the gunshot wounds inflicted by defendant Louissant.
During the investigation that followed, officers learned that Ammar, the employee that had escorted the Brinks guard on August 21, 2011, was actually involved in the robbery. According to the complaint, Ammar alerted Mitchell to the arrival of the Brinks truck. All five defendants were arrested without incident.
The complaint charges the defendants with Hobbs Act robbery and with using a firearm during the commission of the robbery, in violation of Title 18, Untied States Code, Sections 1951 and 924(c), respectively. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of death or up to life in prison.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, the South Florida Violent Crime/ Fugitive Task Force, and the Miami Gardens Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Gilfarb.
A complaint is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Attachments:
Complaint (PDF)
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
