‘Insider’ pleads guilty in Brinks truck robbery
Appeals court had thrown out first conviction
A Broward man who was serving life in prison for his role in a robbery that led to the fatal shooting of an armored truck guard at a South Florida race track and casino will now face lesser punishment. Last year, an appeals court threwout the criminal convictions ofUri Ammar, 32, of Hollywood. Theappellate judges ruled that Senior U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King violated Ammar’s right to a speedy trial.
Ammarhas been locked up since shortly after the Aug. 21, 2011, robbery, an insider job that led to the shooting death of Brink’s guard Alvaro Lopez Ramos. Ramos, 26, was fatally shot while picking up cash fromthe Calder Race Track and Casino, on the border of Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Jurors found Ammar not guilty of playing a role in the murder but convicted him of robbery, conspiracy and a related firearms offense at his 2012 trial.
Four other people who pleaded guilty to their roles in the incident are serving federal prison terms ranging from five years to 50 years.
Vladimir Louissaint, 31, of Miami Gardens, who confessed to firing the fatal shots, received the most severe of 50 years.
After the federal appeals court threw out Ammar’s convictions, prosecutors obtained a new indictment against him in March, charging him with robbery, conspiracy and a weapons offense.
Ammar pleaded guilty to the robbery and conspiracy charges on Monday, his appellate lawyer Marc Seitles confirmed Tuesday. The two charges each carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in federal prison when Ammar is sentenced later this year in federal court inMiami.
Seitles declined to comment on the case.
Ammar, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who was a security manager at the casino, remained imprisoned while his appealwas pending. His case is now being handled by U.S. District Judge UrsulaUngaro.
Prosecutors said Ammar was one of several insiders who worked at the track and helped set up the robbery. Ammar insisted on escorting the armored truck guard and led him to Louissaint, they said.
The truck guard pulled his gun and pointed it at Louissaint, who then shot him twice in the head, according to court records. The guard managed to return fire and Louissaint was shot in the leg.
Ammar testified in his trial that the robbers approached him while they were planning the robbery and threatened to harm him and his family if he did not help them. He said he did not know there would be a gun or that anyonewould die. punishment
pmcmahon@sunsentinel. com, 954-356-4533 or Twitter @SentinelPaula