MIAMI – A 40-year-old Plantation man pleaded guilty on Friday in connection with an armored truck robbery, resulting in the theft of $280,000 and a shootout outside the Space Coast Credit Union in Sunrise.
More specifically, authorities said Christopher Ferguson, 40, pled guilty to the Hobbs Act.
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The FBI arrested Ferguson in connection with the robbery of an Brinks armored truck courier in January.
As alleged in the indictment and statements made in court, on Jan. 17, 2013, a Brinks armored truck arrived at the Space Coast Credit Union in Sunrise to make a delivery of U.S. currency.
As the Brinks courier exited the truck and approached the front door of the bank, authorities said two masked suspects exited a stolen white Honda that was parked at the bank.
Both suspects thereafter ran toward the courier, one of whom was pointing what appeared to be a handgun directly at the guard. Authorities said one suspect ordered the Brink's courier to the ground and the courier put his hands up and laid down on the ground.
At that point, one robber tried unsuccessfully to take the courier's firearm while the other subject grabbed a bag belonging to Brinks and destined for delivery to the credit union, which contained approximately $280,000, said authorities.
Moments later, both suspects ran back to the stolen Honda. Authorities said the entire robbery was recorded on bank surveillance video.
According to statements made in court, as the suspects entered the Honda, the Brinks driver and the courier who had just been robbed, discharged their firearms multiple times at the subjects and their white Honda as they fled the scene.
Ultimately, numerous rounds struck and penetrated their vehicle, which exited the bank parking lot. Law enforcement responded to the location of the abandoned Honda and observed that the vehicle had sustained damage from multiple gun shots.
Authorities said a subsequent search of the stolen vehicle revealed the presence of blood located on the driver's seat and floorboard area.
Law enforcement swabbed the blood and submitted the unknown DNA to the FBI Laboratory. Ultimately, the unknown DNA sample was identified as belonging to Ferguson.
Sentencing has been scheduled for July 29 at 1:15 p.m. before a U.S. District Judge. At sentencing, authorities said Ferguson faces a maximum statutory sentence of up to 20 years in prison on the robbery count, as well as up to 3 years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine and mandatory restitution.
The second robber remains at large. If anyone has information about the whereabouts of the second individual or this investigation, you are asked to call the Miami FBI at 305-944-9101.