Armored Car Employee and Two Co-Defendants Sentenced to Prison for Theft of Over $500,000 on Long Island

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Alexis Laguerra, Raymond Soto, Jr. and Raymond Soto, Sr. were sentenced by United States District Judge Sandra J. Feuerstein to 30 months, 33 months and 18 months in prison, respectively, for bank larceny in connection with the theft of over $500,000 from an armored car on November 2, 2018 in Valley Stream, New York.  Laguerra was an employee of GardaWorld, the owner of the armored car.  The defendants were also ordered to pay forfeiture of $300,000, and restitution of $510,000 to GardaWorld.  The defendants pleaded guilty in April 2019.  

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), announced the sentences.

As set forth during the prior guilty plea proceedings and in court filings, Laguerra used his insider’s knowledge of GardaWorld to plot and carry out the theft.  Laguerra was the assigned GardaWorld driver for the overnight shift and left the armored car unoccupied and unguarded outside a bank.  Soto Jr. entered the armored car, drove a short distance from the bank, and removed three bags of cash totaling $510,000 from the vehicle.  Soto Sr., driving a getaway car, picked up Soto Jr. and the cash and fled.  Law enforcement authorities later recovered $130,000 of the stolen money from Soto Sr.’s residence in Queens.

“This inside job has landed the defendants inside prison where they can contemplate what a foolhardy idea this crime was,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “I commend the FBI and the Nassau County Police Department for quickly solving this crime and demonstrating, once again, that crime doesn’t pay.”

“Today’s sentencing of defendants Laguerra, Soto Jr and Soto Sr. is a clear example of how numerous law enforcement agencies working together brought these three defendants to justice in an expeditious manner.  I would like to congratulate all of the investigators and their respective agencies for a job well done,” stated NCPD Commissioner Ryder.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Charles P. Kelly and Madeline O’Connor are in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendants:

ALEXIS LAGUERRA

Age:  32

Brooklyn, New York

RAYMOND SOTO, SR. (also known as “Razor”)

Age:  49

Richmond Hill, Queens

RAYMOND SOTO, JR. (also known as “Rambo”)

Age: 29

Richmond Hill, Queens

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-678 (SJF)