FBI: Ohio Couple Admit To $8M Heist

"I Wanted A Better Life," Woman Says Of Stealing Money From Armored Car With Her Boyfriend

(AP)  A couple accused of stealing millions of dollars from an armored car company did it to escape financial hardships, the woman told the FBI in court documents disclosed Monday.

Roger Dillon, 23, and his girlfriend, Nicole Boyd, 25, both of Youngstown, are charged with bank larceny and other counts in the Nov. 26 heist from AT Systems in Liberty, just north of Youngstown.

The amount stolen was just under $8.4 million, including $6.7 million in cash and the rest in checks. Authorities until Monday had reported the theft at a total of $7.4 million, including $4.3 million in cash.

The couple's motive was to escape financial problems, including thousands of dollars of debt, Boyd said in her statement to the FBI, signed Dec. 1.

"I knew taking the money from AT Systems was wrong, but I wanted a better life," she said in the statement, read by FBI agent Guy Hunneyman at a bond hearing in U.S. District Court.

All but $3,500 was recovered, Hunneyman said. The cash and checks were found stacked in a mobile home where the couple fled about 250 miles away in Pipestem, W.Va.

According to their statements, they made several trips to West Virginia in the weeks before the robbery to rent the trailer, buy heating oil for it and stock it with supplies, books and video games.

"I told my mom about a week beforehand ... and told her she should come with us," Dillon wrote.

His mother, Sharon Lee Gregory, tried to talk him out of it, he added. Boyd and Dillon are charged with bank larceny, and all three are charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines.

When the armored car company had cash from the busy post-Thanksgiving holiday shopping weekend, Dillon entered the building using another employee's security code, his statement said.

He pulled a truck into a garage and loaded it with bags. Boyd helped, Boyd's statement said. They made one stop on the way to West Virginia - at a McDonald's restaurant, where they disposed of their cell phones.

Magistrate Judge Kenneth McHargh said he would rule on bond for Boyd and Dillon's mother after their attorneys tell him of where they will live. They have been held without bond since their Dec. 1 arrests.

Kirk Migdao, an attorney for Boyd, told the magistrate that evidence against his client seemed strong but that she should be released on bond because she has no criminal record and no weapon was used in the robbery.

James Campbell, an attorney for Gregory, argued that his client wasn't responsible for the theft and naively went along with her son. She had left for West Virginia before the robbery, Campbell said.

Dillon's attorney, Brian Pierce, didn't challenge statements read in court.

The three have pleaded not guilty. They face up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. They have no prior criminal records.

[docpeter-2009]

Boyd said, "I knew taking the money from AT Systems was wrong, but I wanted a better life," I wonder if she thought about WORK? I want a better life also and I work two jobs for it. Unfortunately with what I am paid I won''t get the better life. I doubt that I will go out and rob an armored car or bank. Oh well. At least most of my bills are paid every month.

[cyberdjs4]

Instead of a "better life", she now gets "no life" for a very long time.

[cheddarboy82]

I think 90% of americans want a better life, doesnt mean you go rob it. What idiots, lock em up, throw away the key

[wdrussell1]

I think most people would be surprised on how little security these companies have with large amounts of money.

[extremophil]

"I knew taking the money was wrong, but I wanted a better life,"...... I want a better life, too. That''s why I don''t rob people.

[Cas2dy]

Okay, WHY weould the mother go along with this? Even if she really did try to talk them out of it, she STILL went to meet up with them. As a matter of fact she went to the meeting point ahead of time. Not one of my children could convince mt to steal or to use the proceeds of them stealing to enhance my life. Aren''t we supposed to be the ones teaching our kids NOT to do that???

[navyvet77]

Okay, what''''''''s most shocking about this story is that Nicole was actually Roger''''''''s girlfriend. Is she totally blind?

Posted by Candide7

-------------------------------------------------

My eyssight is pretty good and you look shallow to me.

[connapa]

They may have been caught "red handed" with the stolen money. Just being in possession of something that is stolen does not mean that you were the one who actually stole it. Therefore, it is up to the state to "prove beyond a reasonable doubt" that you did the crime (as is also the case with the head in a pot. The state needs to prove that he killed her in cold blood, not self defense.) When entering a plea in court, you are not "under oath" or sworn in giving testimony. It is only when you lie while under oath that you are committing perjury.

[slim1h2o]

Hey way to go,This must be the new way to the American Dream.

Posted by Bidder3 at 06:08 AM : Jan 29, 2008

I was thinking the same thing. Of course, you could say, they were just following the politicians lead of this country. No worse of thieves, than that bunch.

[bidder3]

Hey way to go,This must be the new way to the American Dream.

[adasher1]

Mcv57 must be butt ugly.

What kills me is that in this system that we have here, we can plead not guilty even when caught with the money or the head of our girlfriend in a pot on the stove as with the other story posted in the news today. They were found with the money stacked up to the roof of their trailer, but they are not guilty? Where I come from we used to call that perjury. Wait%u2026..I come from America%u2026%u2026is it no longer perjury to lie in court?

[gwalsh3rd]

and we thought trailer people were stupid, you give the word stupid a new meanning

[Krazcarl]

MCV57+candide777....I agree with mcv57 I agree with your post candide777 you supeficial and shallow it shows mow the wotld sees you for what you are, proud of yourself dimwit.

[mcv57]

Okay, what''''s most shocking about this story is that Nicole was actually Roger''''s girlfriend. Is she totally blind?

Posted by Candide777

No, it is that you are totally vane. You probably thing beauty brings the best kinds of people. Actually, beauty brings nothing but arrogance, stupidity, and selfeshness. It never fails.

[candide777]

Okay, what''s most shocking about this story is that Nicole was actually Roger''s girlfriend. Is she totally blind?