GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR ARMED BANK ROBBERY

A South Los Angeles gang member was sentenced today pursuant to the federal three strikes law to life without parole in prison for committing an armed bank robbery.

Anthony J. Sutton, 31, of Hawthorne, California , was sentenced this afternoon by Senior United States District Court Judge William J. Rea. Sutton was convicted on September 20, 2002, following a two-week trial, on federal charges of conspiracy, armed bank robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

Sutton, a member of the 5-Trey Avalon Crips street gang, participated in a January 16, 2002 robbery at a Bank of America branch at 4400 Tweedy Boulevard in Southgate. The robbery took place after the bank had closed and was facilitated by Suttons's former girlfriend, who was servicing ATM machines inside the closed bank. Sutton and two other gang members were caught fleeing the bank by the Southgate Police Department.

The former girlfriend and the two other robbers have been sentenced to terms ranging from seven to 12 years .

The three-strikes information against Sutton asserted that he had previously been convicted of shooting into an inhabited dwelling and armed robbery. Today, Judge Rea found that Sutton had committed these prior serious, violent felonies and sentenced defendant to life imprisonment under the federal three strikes law.

The case was investigated by the Southgate Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.