7-Eleven thief pleads guilty to multiple armed robberies

A Los Angeles County man pleaded guilty Friday to committing multiple armed robberies of 7-Eleven stores and another business during a six-week crime spree last year.

Colin Lacey, 28, of the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by robbery, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong scheduled a Nov. 4 sentencing hearing, at which time Lacey will face up to 20 years in federal prison.

According to his plea agreement, in November 2021, Lacey participated in the robbery of six businesses — five of which were 7-Eleven convenience stores. During the robberies, Lacey typically entered the stores, pointed a handgun at the store’s cashier and stole money — usually hundreds of dollars in cash belonging to the business.

In one case, on Nov. 29, 2021, Lacey and co-conspirator Kyle Richard Williams, 25, of Inglewood, traveled together to a smoke shop located in the Mid-City area of Los Angeles. Williams entered the store, pointed a handgun at the cashier and stole $442 while Lacey waited outside the store before fleeing with Williams, prosecutors said.

That same night, Lacey and Williams robbed 7-Eleven stores in Hollywood and Mid-City, with Lacey pointing a handgun at the cashier at the Hollywood store and Williams pointing a handgun at the cashier at the Mid-City business, making off with $600 and $100, respectively. The pair then fled in Lacey’s Hyundai, according to prosecutors.

Williams, 25, of Inglewood, previously pleaded guilty to all counts against him: one count of conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by robbery, two counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

He is expected to be sentenced on Dec. 9.

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