Bank Robber Returns to Prison After Early Release

A 61-year-old man, previously convicted for bank robbery, faces a return to prison following a new robbery committed shortly after his early release.

Markham David Bond was convicted in a federal court in Los Angeles on multiple charges, including robbery, using a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of a firearm as a felon, as reported by the US Department of Justice.

On August 18, 2023, Bond executed a robbery of a Brinks courier at gunpoint in a Chase bank parking lot near LAX. He brandished a handgun, threatening the driver into surrendering a duffle bag filled with cash.

Under duress, the Brinks employee released the bag, which contained $145,000, allowing Bond to escape the scene.

Law enforcement apprehended Bond in November 2023 after conducting searches at his home and the getaway vehicle used in the robbery, uncovering crucial evidence linking him to the crime.

Authorities discovered the stolen cash hidden inside a mini-refrigerator at his residence, along with a .40-caliber handgun with ammunition, and the shirt he wore during the robbery. The empty bag from Brinks was also located in his getaway car.

Following his arrest, it was highlighted that Bond had been granted a compassionate release from his prior sentence, where he was serving time for bank robbery and firearms offenses since the 1990s.

“After being given a second chance in life, this defendant sadly chose a path of violent crime,” stated U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada.

Bond had been sentenced to nearly 47 years in prison in January 1995, but he was released after serving just 26 years.

At the time of the Brinks robbery, he was still under supervised release.

“Through our strong partnerships with federal and local law enforcement, we will continue to protect our community by holding violent offenders accountable,” Estrada added.

Bond’s extensive criminal record stretches back to the 1980s and includes offenses such as armed robbery and drug-related crimes.

Compassionate release allows for the early release of inmates under special circumstances, such as severe health problems, old age, or pressing family issues, as defined by the United States Sentencing Commission.

A sentencing hearing for Bond is scheduled for July 11, 2025, where he could face a lifetime sentence in federal prison.