A South Los Angeles man has been convicted of a Valentine's Day armed robbery that took place in Hawthorne back in 2022. Deneyvous Hobson, 38, from the West Adams neighborhood, was found guilty on several charges including Hobbs Act robbery, and using a firearm in a crime of violence.
The U.S. Attorney's Office reports Hobson and his accomplice James Russell Davis, 36, also of West Adams, staged an ambush on an armored truck after its driver had serviced a Wescom Credit Union ATM. The driver was held at gunpoint while over $166,000 in cash and checks were taken. During the robbery, a firearm was discharged as the assailants made their escape.
Hobson tried to sell the 9mm semi-automatic handgun used in the robbery the following day. Because of previous felony convictions, Hobson is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. The jury found Hobson guilty after a six-day trial, deciding he had indeed conspired to interfere with commerce by robbery, was a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and had used a firearm to further a crime of violence.
United States Attorney Martin Estrada, reflecting on the guilty verdict, said, "Our community will not accept violent gun crime and armed and violent felons will be held accountable". "I commend our prosecutors and our federal and local law enforcement partners for bringing this defendant to justice." Operation Safe Cities, an initiative mentioned by Estrada, aims to target crimes involving illicit guns and robbery crews that significantly impact public safety and commerce.
Hobson is scheduled for sentencing on April 18, 2025, and faces a possible life sentence. Davis pleaded guilty earlier this year and received a sentence of 166 months in federal prison, including the order to pay restitution for the stolen funds. The investigation was led by a collaboration between the FBI and multiple local law enforcement departments. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler, Jena A. MacCabe, and Jason C. Pang prosecuted the case.
