Forum Views () 
Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
SC judge to punish men in $9.8M armored car heist  
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
Navigation
Primary Navigation
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
 
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
 
Search
 
 
Search:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SC judge to punish men in $9.8M armored car heist
 
 
 
 
 
 
 By KATRINA A. GOGGINS,Associated Press Writer AP - Tuesday, August 25
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Six young men who staged one of the largest armored car heists in U.S. history, then spent a week splurging on strippers, high-living and even Mother's Day gifts, are asking a South Carolina judge for mercy.
ADVERTISEMENT
 
  
On Monday, the men _ four of whom were college students at the time of the holdup _ will learn their punishment for $9.8 million robbery and the beating of a guard who was left bloodied and bound on a secluded road beside a strawberry patch in Columbia in 2007.
While prosecutors have asked a judge to sentence all but one of the men to at least 25 years, relatives and defense attorneys insist they are not scheming criminals, just misguided youth.
"He's a person that _ once he recognizes he's made a mistake _ he makes a change in his life," Gail McPhail, the mother of one of the men, said during a hearing earlier this month. "I believe he has greatness in him."
The crime was sloppy and the coverup quickly discovered. The men didn't even bring enough garbage bags to haul away all the $18 million in the armored car, defense attorneys said. More than half of the money they stole remains missing.
"This type of crime doesn't belong in any pantheon of crime," defense attorney Joe McCulloch said during the Aug. 10 hearing. "There wasn't a whole lot of sophistication here."
Prosecutors have a different view. They said the Express Teller Services car was stopped at a gas station to refuel when two men wielding weapons overpowered a guard. The armored car was driven to a dirt road where two other men waited in a second vehicle to unload the money.
"This isn't two guys that knocked over granddad's liquor store _ there's a lot more to it than that," prosecutor Dan Goldberg said. "It was a well-thought out, calculated plan. Each person involved had their own role. They had their own job and they executed them. ... And there was a far reaching impact as a result of their actions."
Jeremy McPhail, 21, of Society Hill; Dominic Lyde, 24, of Darlington; Domonique Blakney, 21, of Darlington; Paul Whitaker, 23, of Sumter; Kelby Blakney, 22, of Darlington; and Darryl Frierson, 23, of Columbia, have all pleaded guilty in the case.
Underestimating the amount of their score, the men only made off with a little more than half of the money. They left one guard badly beaten, duct taped with broken bones and knocked out teeth, while the other guard _ whom authorities have called the mastermind of the heist _ appeared unharmed.
For a week, the men spent money on strippers, tennis shoes, tattoos, electronics, used cars _ even Mother's Day gifts.
Investigators said they were immediately suspicious of the overly descriptive account of the robbery given by Frierson, who was initially considered a victim. He failed a polygraph test and deputies began to question his friend, Whitaker, and the other men.
All but one of the six men were arrested about a week after the heist. Nine months later, Lyde was arrested in North Carolina.
Five of the six have pleaded guilty to armed robbery, kidnapping, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and conspiracy. Whitaker, who also worked for the armored car company, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy.
Brothers Domonique and Kelby Blakney have already been sentenced, but are asking a judge to reduce their prison terms from 25 years. Prosecutors have asked that their request be denied and that McPhail, Lyde and Frierson each be given least 25 years in prison.
Whitaker will likely get a lesser sentence, prosecutors said.
Family members say many of the men once volunteered in their communities, helped raise their siblings and aspired to be college graduates despite growing up in rough neighborhoods in rural towns and urban areas. One was a college athlete, another a sensitive father who turned to cocaine and alcohol after ending his relationship with the mother of his young daughter.
"He made a mistake," Darryl Frierson's father said. "They all made mistakes ... But take me, please don't take my son. Don't take him away from his daughter."
While those who defend them try to downplay the amount of money stolen in the robbery, the FBI has said the Columbia armored car heist is now the third-largest in U.S. history.
"Thankfully, these cases are few and far between," said Emmett Stephen, an FBI spokesman. "Law enforcement has shown time and again its commitment with going after these. They're not easy to get away with."
 
 
 
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
 
 
     
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
 
Related Articles: World
In the red, US school districts cut yellow busesAP - Tuesday, August 25
Je t'aime: French text msgs now divorce evidenceAP - Tuesday, August 25
Reality show contestant found dead in Canada motelAP - 2 hours 20 minutes ago
Malawi child tobacco workers exposed to nicotineAP - Tuesday, August 25
Michael Jackson's mother praises Vienna tributeAP - Tuesday, August 25
 
 
 
 
Most Popular – World
 
 
 
 
 
 Viewed
 
 
 
 
Homes of former Porsche executives searched: report
 
 
Triple gold for Bolt as Kenya trump Ethiopia
 
 
Swiss size up hole in iconic banking secrecy
 
 
Ramadan begins on Saturday amid swine flu worries
 
 
Egypt warns pharaohs' tombs could disappear
 
 
View Complete List »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy 
- Terms of Service 
- Community 
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy 
- Help
        
    
   
 
Other News on Monday, 24 August 2009 Iraqi suspect: It cost $10,000 to pass checkpoints  
Hundreds evacuated as fire threatens Athens suburbs  
Five killed in light aircraft crash near French Riviera  
Iraq broadcasts truck bomber video confession  
Settlements seen clouding Netanyahu's Europe trip  
Iraq shows video it says is confession of bomber
| International
|  
Eight dead in Ukraine mine blast: reports
| International
|  
Iraq shows video it says is confession of bomber  
'Hezbollah' accused allege torture in Egypt jail  
Russia sees no threat to deals in new Mongolia leader
| International
|  
Iraq halts removal of Baghdad security barriers  
Iraq intelligence chief retired before major blasts  
Egypt tries 26 men seen with Hezbollah links  
England win fifth Test, regain Ashes  
No US puppet, recent Karzai decisions anger US  
Even in death, Kim Dae-jung unites Koreas  
Suicide bomb in Pakistani city of Peshawar kills 3  
As Calif. prison spending rises, so do concerns  
Plugging Australian oil leak could take weeks  
Obama facing hard choices on Afghanistan war plans  
Koreas hold talks amid funeral for Kim Dae-jung  
Scotland defends Lockerbie bomber release  
Israel PM hopes to resume peace talks in September  
Ponting steadies Australia in Ashes decider  
Attackers kill 2 soldiers in southern Thailand  
US military: American soldier killed in Iraq  
NASA clears shuttle for launch, weather improving  
Tarantino, Pitt put 'Basterds' on top with $37.6M  
AP Analysis: Martinez departure part of GOP schism  
US military leader concerned by Baghdad bombings  
Senator: Single health care bill a better approach  
Tarantino's Nazi movie slays at box office
| Entertainment
|  
Burglary reported at Lindsay Lohan's L.A. home
| Entertainment
|  
Sinopec profit surges on higher retail prices  
Police probe burglary report at Lohan's LA home  
Attack on Obama riles Beck's advertisers  
Tarantino's Nazi movie slays at box office  
Tarantino, Pitt's 'Basterds' earns glorious $37.6M  
Italian village looks for its mystery lottery winner  
US brass plea for more toops in Afghanistan: report  
U.S. presses sanctions to end N.Korea atomic plans
| International
|  
Germany presses for news this week on Opel's fate  
Mass rigging in Afghan vote says leading contender  
Al-Qaeda 'very capable' of more attacks: US military chief  
Malaysia state says woman to be caned after Ramadan
| International
|  
China trials over Xinjiang riot likely this week
| International
|  
Israel presses Sweden to condemn 'anti-Semitic' report  
Singapore shoots down rumor of APEC attack plot
| International
|  
Fit-looking Fidel Castro appears on Cuban TV
| International
|  
Ahmadinejad rivals rise within conservative camp  
EU to draft new immigration policy by October
| International
|  
Iraq shows video it says is confession of bomber
| International
|  
AP NewsAlert  
China legal activist freed, but may face tax case  
Malaysia woman spared caning for drinking beer  
Nepal's vice president ordered to retake oath  
Aussie pundits back Ponting to stay as skipper  
Steel beam slated to return Monday to ground zero  
Japan opposition party in lead: survey  
Teen trippin' on ADHD drugs can be a real downer  
Afghan vote fraud allegations mount  
Ponting vows to carry on after Ashes reverse  
Discovery gets the all-clear for Tuesday launch  
Sheriff: NC senator shoots intruder at his home  
Scotland defends Lockerbie bomber release  
Outed blogger who flamed model angry at Google  
Plane, 3 cars collide after SoCal freeway landing  
Weakened Hurricane Bill heads toward Canada  
Golf course groundskeeper finds mammoth tooth  
Police probe burglary at Lindsay Lohan's L.A. home  
Seoul shares hit 13-mth high; Samsung Elec rallies  
Taiwan dollar firms on Bernanke, exporters  
S.Korean bonds slide on shares, auctions  
Venezuelan wins sixth Miss Universe crown
| Entertainment
|  
Seoul shares open up; Samsung Elec sets record  
Robin Williams accidental star of new indie comedy
| Entertainment
|  
China's Sinopec 1st-half net profit up more than fourfold  
Suspect in U.S. model murder found dead in Canada
| Entertainment
|  
Venezuela repeats at Miss Universe contest  
Suspect wanted in model killing found dead in Canada  
Venezuelan wins sixth Miss Universe crown  
Lockerbie bomber plans tell-all book: report  
Montag sings at Miss Universe, dismisses critics  
Police say fugitive reality TV star found dead  
Award-winning keyboardist Knechtel dead at 69  
Robin Williams accidental star of new indie comedy  
Police probe burglary at Lindsay Lohan's L.A. home  
Contestants eye Miss Universe crown in the Bahamas  
Afghanistan awaits first election results  
U.N. urges calm in wait for Afghan poll result
| International
|  
Dam disaster shows Russia 'very far behind': Medvedev  
US-TECH Summary  
World stocks power higher on brighter outlook  
Eight dead in Ukraine coal mine blast: officials  
Britain's recession 'at an end': industry survey  
Shiite groups announce new alliance minus Iraqi PM  
Fires near Athens recede after 3-day inferno
| International
|  
Israeli PM heads to Europe for talks on Mideast peace  
Dam tragedy shows Russia lags behind: president  
Al-Qaeda 'very capable' of more attacks: US military  
Big Pharma races to get swine flu vaccines to market  
Israel PM expects no breakthroughs in London talks
| International
|  
Iran tells world states to stop countering nuke drive  
Sudan mulls immunity for aid workers' kidnappers
| International
|  
Iran says cooperating with IAEA, West skeptical
| International
|  
Ukraine leader hits back at Russia on anniversary
| International
|  
Pakistanis rally to support war-affected populations
| International
|  
US-TECH Summary  
Rebels blow up train track, mobile tower in India  
200 to face trial in China for Xinjiang unrest  
In the red, US school districts cut yellow buses  
Asian markets soar on renewed recovery hopes  
Nokia to enter PC industry with first netbook
| Technology
|  
Obama spokesman announces interrogation unit  
SKorea seeks jail for disgraced cloning scientist  
Facebook to boost staff by 50% in 2009: report
| Technology
|  
Officials say North Korea must scrap nukes  
SC judge to punish men in $9.8M armored car heist  
Aussie cricket selectors erred 'but not to blame'  
Hundreds to remain entombed in Taiwan village  
Taiwan Red Cross pledges 1,600 homes for typhoon victims  
Hurricane Bill peters out as it rolls over Newfoundland  
The Nation's Weather  
S.Korea prosecutors seek jail for clone expert  
Lead poisoning haunts Chinese smelter communities  
Analysis: Health overhaul tactics need overhaul  
Opening statements to begin in gang rape trial  
Social Security cost of living increases since '75  
3 Calif. fires contained after burning for weeks  
ADB to lend $500m stimulus to Philippines  
ADB approves $500M stimulus loan for Philippines  
Hong Kong tycoon makes Birmingham buyout bid  
Toyota to conduct biggest recall yet in China  
Taiwan's jobless rate hits record high  
Taiwan jobless rate hits record high  
Minister says Air India needs bailout: report  
China Mobile to develop smartphones with Taiwan  
Indonesia police dismiss Obama plot report  
Seoul shares end at 13-mth high, Samsung at record =2  
Qatar's Tribeca looks to create regional film hub
| Entertainment
|  
Goldthwait brands Williams `World's Greatest Dad'  
Spokeswoman: Lindsay Lohan's LA home broken into  
Malaysian Islamic party urges Ramadan ban on concert  
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary  
Suspect in U.S. model murder found dead in Canada  
African fashion has the look; not what you expect  
Ex-Soviet missile base offers a glimpse of Cold War  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights