SAN DIEGO–A bank robber who violently assaulted several tellers during four separate heists—including at credit unions—and which netted him and his accomplices nearly $400,000 has been sentenced to nearly 500 years in prison.
Larry Lightning, Jr., who was convicted earlier by a San Diego Superior Court jury on 30 felony counts, including charges of robbery, kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon, was given the life sentence.
Among the credit unions hit by Lightning and his accomplices were San Diego County CU and California Coast CU.
According to prosecutors, Lightning and the others jumped over counters, assaulted tellers and forced them to open vaults at gunpoint. They filled trash cans with cash and then disappeared in previously stolen getaway vehicles. In total, Lightning and his accomplices stole $389,355, “while terrorizing bank employees, at least two of whom never returned to work,” according to the San Diego Union Tribune.
Judge Polly Shamoon sentenced Lightning to 488 years and eight months in prison.
‘Terrifying Crime Spree’
“This defendant orchestrated a terrifying crime spree that put the lives of bank workers and community members in danger,” District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a statement. “Thanks to the dedicated work of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, he has been held accountable for his crimes and the fear and harm he caused. While the defendant proved elusive for years, law enforcement never gave up its work to solve this string of crimes.”
Lightning’s court-appointed attorney “intends to appeal the outcome and sentencing.”
Prosecutors earlier told a jury that Lightning was the leader of a “highly sophisticated” crew that scouted bank branches beforehand and chose locations with little security that were close to freeways.
In addition, prosecutors said during trial that on at least two occasions the robbers purposely struck shortly after armored trucks made cash drop-offs.
Teller Dragged Across Floor
Prosecutors said that during the heist he pulled off alone in November 2019 at a California Coast Credit Union branch, Lightning yanked a teller to the ground by her hair and then dragged her across the floor, the Union Tribune reported.
“He pointed his pistol at a second teller while demanding she open a vault and then struck her in the head with his gun,” the report added.