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CASE 018  |  Multiple victims  |  October, 2017  |  USA
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DATABASE RECORD
  id                  18
  date                October, 2017
  original_date       October, 2017
  year                2017
  month               10
  quarter             2017-Q4
  victim              Multiple victims
  location            Los Angeles, California
  country             USA
  scenario            Armed Robbery in Public Space
  description         "Discount Bitcoin Bandits" committed 5 robberies at gunpoint
  kidnappings         0
  violence_torture    0
  drugs_alcohol       0
  weapons             1
  theft               1
  life_taken          0
  money_wanted        (null)
  coin_type           (null)
  reports             Lacounty.gov
  notes               online ads of "discounted bitcoin"
  has_processed_date  0
  created_at          2025-11-13 05:44:45
  (flag legend: 'kidnappings' is the DETENTION flag — 1 when the victim was held against
   their will at any point, tied, locked in, held at gunpoint or taken away; it is NOT the
   same as the 'Kidnapping' scenario, which means taken away and held. See README, Definitions.)

AI SUMMARY  [generated at bulk import, NOT verified against sources]
  **Victim:** Multiple victims
  
  **Attackers:** Unknown number of perpetrators
  
  **Attack Method:** Armed Robbery in Public Space
  
  **Violence Used:** Firearms
  
  **Crypto Stolen:** Amount not disclosed
  
  **Status:** Investigation ongoing

LINKED SOURCES
  [url]  https://da.lacounty.gov/sites/default/files/press/042618_Discount_Bitcoin_Bandits_Charged_with_Robbing_Would-Be_Buyers.pdf

NOTES ON THIS FILE
  * matched to sheet row 19: reviewed and approved individually

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ARTICLE 1
  Source   Lacounty.gov
  URL      https://da.lacounty.gov/sites/default/files/press/042618_Discount_Bitcoin_Bandits_Charged_with_Robbing_Would-Be_Buyers.pdf
  Origin   reported_K&R sheet, row 19, column "Articles"
  Length   1,636 chars
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‘Discount Bitcoin Bandits’ Plead to Robbery of Would-Be Buyers

Two East Hollywood residents known as the “Discount Bitcoin Bandits” have admitted to robbing people who sought to buy the cryptocurrency in 2017 and 2018, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced today.
Precious Lanay Fitzgerald, 29, pleaded no contest today to one count of second-degree robbery and admitted allegations that a handgun was used during the crime and she had a prior felony conviction.
Her co-defendant, Lawillie Joshua Hall, 23, pleaded no contest on April 2 to one felony count of second-degree robbery and admitted an allegation that he was in possession of a handgun.
Fitzgerald is expected to be sentenced to 10 years in state prison and ordered to pay $85,715 in restitution under the terms of a negotiated plea agreement. Her sentencing is scheduled on Nov. 22 in Department 121 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
Hall is expected to be sentenced to four years in state prison and ordered to pay $29,900 in restitution. His sentencing is on Dec. 17 in Department 121.
Deputy District Attorney John Weller of the Cyber Crime Division prosecuted case BA466388.
From October 2017 through February 2018, Fitzgerald stole money from five people by using online notices and communications advertising the sale of discount bitcoins, according to court testimony. She met the victims in person and forcefully took the cash they had brought to purchase the cryptocurrency.
Hall helped Fitzgerald in two of the robberies, according to testimony.
The case was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, Robbery-Homicide Division.

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ARTICLE 2
  Source   Lacounty.gov
  URL      (no URL recorded for this column)
  Origin   reported_K&R sheet, row 19, column "Article 2"
  Length   2,254 chars
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‘Discount Bitcoin Bandits’ Charged
with Robbing Would-Be Buyers
A man and woman dubbed the “Discount Bitcoin Bandits” have been charged with stealing thousands
of dollars from people who sought to buy the cryptocurrency, the Los Angeles County District
Attorney’s Office announced today.
Precious Lanay Fitzgerald (dob 6/29/90) was initially charged with four counts of second-degree
robbery, two counts of child abuse and one count of grand theft, all felonies, on March 19. Two new
charges, one felony count each of grand theft and child abuse, were filed yesterday against her,
according to the amended complaint in case BA466388.
Lawillie Joshua Hall (dob 4/2/96) was charged March 19 with two counts of second-degree robbery.
Both defendants also face gun allegations, and the charges include prior conviction allegations against
Fitzgerald.
The pair is scheduled for a preliminary hearing setting on Wednesday, when they are expected to be rearraigned on the amended complaint, in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
Prosecutors are recommending bail be set at $570,000 for Fitzgerald and $200,000 for Hall.
According to prosecutors, the defendants allegedly stole $87,125 from six people from October to
February by using online notices and communications advertising the sale of discount Bitcoins then
stealing the victims’ payments.
In one instance, Fitzgerald is accused of receiving a money transfer from a victim but never providing
the promised Bitcoin. In other instances, she allegedly met the victims in person and forcefully took the
cash they had brought to purchase the Bitcoins.
Hall allegedly helped Fitzgerald in at least two of the robberies and used a handgun. An infant also
allegedly was present during some of the robberies.
N E W S R E L E A S E
Fitzgerald was convicted March 22, 2010, of assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm in case
YA075924.
She faces a maximum possible sentence of 29 years and 18 months in state prison if convicted as
charged. Hall faces up to 19 years and four months in prison.
Deputy District Attorney John C. Weller of the Cyber Crime Division is prosecuting the case.
The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, Robbery-Homicide
Division.

OTHER LINKED SOURCES
  [THIN]  url  None — extractor recovered very little; needs the WebFetch path or a site-specific rule
      https://da.lacounty.gov/sites/default/files/press/042618_Discount_Bitcoin_Bandits_Charged_with_Robbing_Would-Be_Buyers.pdf

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generated from attacks-export-Gart-website.json + reported_K&R  |  case 018
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