Chase Bank security guard accused of helping plan a robbery at the same bank, police say

Three people were arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after police said they conspired to steal $200,000 from a couple outside a bank in California.

Jerry Wimbley Jr., 21, Roman Isaiah Smith, 24 and Tyjana Grayes, 24, were all arrested in connection to the theft, which happened in February outside a Chase Bank in Palmdale, California.

Police say they were all arrested on alleged charges of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and interference with commerce by robbery. Moreover, charges for all three also include brandishing a firearm, and Wimbley was charged with three counts of money laundering and the possession of a weapon while being a felon.

USA TODAY could not immediately contact the lawyers connected to this case.

A tipped-off robbery attempt

A press release from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said that the couple deposited a check for about $315,000 in January, but they were told by the bank they would have to return at a later date to collect the cash as the bank did not have enough at hand.

During the time between the deposit and Feb. 9, the day of the robbery, Grayes, who was a security guard at the bank, allegedly tipped off Wimbley and Smith about the pickup of the large amount of cash.

On the day of the robbery, Wimbley and Smith allegedly waited outside of the Chase bank for hours before jumping out of their car and robbing the couple of their cash, according to the indictment obtained by USA TODAY.

For the next month following the robbery, Wimbley is said to have laundered the money at a local casino, according to the press release. Officials said he purchased about $34,500 in chips and cashed out about $168,000 from the establishment.

Wimbley is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 15, while Smith is in the possession of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department on state murder charges, police said. Grayes made their first appearance in court on Wednesday.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.