Six Charged in Smash-and-Grab Robbery of Lux Bond and Green Jewelry Store

Six people were indicted on federal charges Thursday for their involvement with the smash-and-grab robbery of the Lux Bond & Green jewelry store in West Hartford this past October.

The indictments were the results of the coordinated efforts of the West Hartford Police Department, the FBI, the Southfield, Michigan Police Department, and numerous other agencies that investigated a series of smash-and-grab robberies across the country.

The six indicted were part of crews of thieves from Metro Detroit that robbed six jewelry stores in other states, including New York, Maryland, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Nebraska.

According to the indictment, several members of the crew entered the jewelry stores while they were open for business, smashed the Rolex display cases with sledge hammers and fled the store with Rolex watches, valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars. The robbers escaped into waiting, stolen vehicles and returned to Michigan with the stolen watches.

The following people were charged in connection with the Lux Bond and Green robbery: Ernie Thomas Evans, 25, of Detroit, Darrick Adams, 29, of Detroit, Brandon Mayes, 20, of Detroit, Bria Jackson, 22, of Shelby Township, Shaquita Wyatt, 24, of Detroit, and Bria Stanford, 21, of Belleville. They were all charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery.

Overall, 17 people from the metro-Detroit area have been indicted for the involvement with about 40 smash-and-grab robberies in 2014.

“The defendants in this case intentionally targeted jewelry stores across the country, exposing the public to danger and attempting to thwart the efforts of law enforcement,” Special Agent in Charge Paul M. Abbate of the FBI said in a press release. “Together, law enforcement at every level, through shared intelligence, resources, and evidence, brought their crime spree to a halt. The FBI stands, along with its partners, both local and national, ready to bring other criminal smash and grab robbery crews to justice.”

The investigation remains open and West Hartford Police are continuing to work with Federal, State, and Local agencies related to this incident and others nationwide.

The case will be prosecuted in the U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Michigan (Southern Division).