Inglewood man found guilty of robbing Brinks courier after early prison release

LOS ANGELES, California (MyCaliforniaNews) — An Inglewood man, who was granted compassionate release in 2022 after serving 26 years for armed robberies, has been found guilty of robbing a Brinks courier at gunpoint near Los Angeles International Airport in August 2023, according to the Justice Department.

Markham David Bond, a 61-year-old from Inglewood, California, was convicted of interference with commerce by robbery, using a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Bond has been in federal custody since November 2023. "After being given a second chance in life, this defendant sadly chose a path of violent crime," said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. "Through our strong partnerships with federal and local law enforcement, we will continue to use our resources to protect our community by holding accountable violent offenders who use guns."

Evidence presented during the five-day trial revealed that on August 18, 2023, Bond stole approximately $145,000 from a Brinks armored carrier outside a Chase bank. The robbery occurred as a Brinks employee exited the vehicle with a blue duffle bag containing the cash. Bond approached, brandished a handgun, and demanded the money, prompting the employee to drop the bag and comply with Bond's orders to get on the ground. Bond then fled with the duffle bag.

Bond was arrested on November 22, 2023. Authorities seized a .40-caliber pistol, the shirt worn during the robbery, and cash hidden in a mini-refrigerator from his residence. The getaway car, containing the empty Brinks bag and other evidence, was found nearby. Bond's criminal history includes multiple felony convictions from the 1980s and 1990s, including Hobbs Act robbery and armed bank robbery. As a felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

In 1995, Bond was sentenced to 46 years and 10 months for bank robbery and firearms offenses but was released early in 2022. He was on supervised release at the time of the August 2023 robbery. United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu has scheduled Bond's sentencing for July 11, 2025, where he faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

Operation Safe Cities, which prioritizes prosecuting violent crime drivers, aims to improve public safety by targeting crimes involving illicit guns and prohibited persons, according to the Justice Department.