A bank robber who was released early from federal prison on a “compassionate release” program is returning to prison for the same crime he was initially convicted of.
Markham David Bond, according to the US Department of Justice, has been convicted by a federal jury in Los Angeles on Thursday. The charges against Bond include interference with commerce by robbery, using a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
On August 18, 2023, Bond, aged 61, held up a Brinks courier at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Chase bank near LAX.
Approaching the driver of the armored vehicle, he brandished a handgun and demanded the money.
In a state of fear for his life, the Brinks employee obeyed Bond’s command and dropped the duffle bag containing the cash.
The criminal quickly grabbed the bag and ran away, escaping with a hefty sum of $145,000 in cash.
On November 22, 2023, authorities apprehended Bond, who was found in possession of a wealth of evidence connecting him to the robbery. The police discovered this evidence during searches of both his residence and the getaway car he utilized during the heist.
During the investigation, authorities discovered that the suspect had stashed the stolen cash in a mini-refrigerator at his residence. They also recovered a .40-caliber pistol with 10 rounds of ammunition, as well as the shirt he had worn during the robbery. Additionally, the empty Brinks bag was recovered inside the getaway vehicle.
The Department of Justice reported that after he was arrested, it came to light that the audacious robber had been released from custody in early 2022 on “compassionate” grounds. This release was granted following his conviction for bank robbery and other firearms offenses in the mid-’90s.
US Attorney Martin Estrada expressed disappointment in the defendant’s decision to resort to a life of violent crime after being given a second chance.
In January 1995, Bond received a prison sentence of 46 years and 10 months after being found guilty.
After just 26 years of serving his sentence, he was granted compassionate release.
In 2023, Bonds robbed the Brinks employee at gunpoint while he was under supervised release.
“We will continue to utilize our resources in partnership with federal and local law enforcement to safeguard our community by ensuring that those who employ firearms to commit acts of violence are held accountable,” stated Estrada.
The California felon had a long criminal record dating back to the 1980s and 1990s. His history included armed robbery, using a firearm to commit a violent crime, and conspiring to possess heroin with the intent to distribute it.
Compassionate release is a legal procedure that allows for the early release of prisoners under exceptional and compelling circumstances. These reasons can include severe health problems, advanced age, or significant family situations, as defined by the United States Sentencing Commission.
The reason for Bonds being granted release in 2022 is unclear.
The serial felon is set to be sentenced on July 11, 2025, with the possibility of receiving a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.