Houston crew convicted of violent ATM robberies

 CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Three Houston men have pleaded guilty to a string of Love’s Travel Stop robberies throughout Texas and Louisiana, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Christopher Bernard Brown aka Chris and C, 39, pleaded guilty today, while Wesley Jerome Davis, 28, and Kevin Wilson aka KCosa or KC, 33, admitted to their roles July 29.

Between May 29, and Sept. 13, 2019, the men conspired with each other to steal or attempt to steal ATMs and the currency they contained from at least nine Love’s Travel Stops. They admitted they threatened or used physical force towards customers or employees.

Brown typically served as a scout or lookout. Davis and Wilson wore masks and gloves and removed or attempted to remove the ATMs using a vehicle. The men would then lift the dislodged ATMs into a waiting vehicle and drive away.

They failed on three attempts but managed to take a significant amount of money from the stolen ATMs in Hungerford, Seguin, Lufkin, Cleveland, and Three Rivers as well as in Vinton, Louisiana. 

In the Three Rivers incident, Brown or others came into contact with Love’s employees or customers and made statements and gestures that incited fear. Employees did not intervene for fear of sustaining serious bodily injury. 

In Seguin, a good Samaritan attempted to stop the ATM robbery but Davis struck him twice. The victim fell to the floor and suffered bodily injury from a head wound.

Brown is set for sentencing Jan. 5, 2022, before U.S. District Judge David S. Morales, while Wilson and Davis are set for Oct. 27. At their hearings, each faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

They have been and will remain in custody pending their sentencing hearings.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of sheriff’s offices in Live Oak, Angelina, Brazoria, Wharton, Medina and Cass Counties; police departments in Angleton, Cleveland, Seguin and Lufkin and Vinton, Louisiana.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Manning is prosecuting the case.