Men Sentenced in Takeover Robbery

Three Lancaster men convicted in last year’s takeover robbery of an Antelope Valley credit union were sentenced in Los Angeles federal court Tuesday to lengthy prison terms.

U.S. District Judge William D. Keller sentenced James Douglas Pridgen, 43, to slightly more than 33 years in prison. David Daniel Thomas Wilkerson, 20, was sentenced to 10 years, 3 months and Darrell Lane McClain, 20, was sentenced to 7 1/2 years, said Assistant U.S. Atty. Arif Alikhan.

Attorneys for Pridgen and Wilkerson did not return telephone calls seeking comment.

All three were convicted of taking part in the takeover robbery of the Edwards Federal Credit Union, at 44288 N. 10th St., Lancaster on Dec. 16, 1997.

Five days earlier, the three allegedly stole a late-model Honda that had been left running in the garage of a Lancaster home. After a brief struggle with the car’s owner, Pridgen struck the man on the head with the butt of a semi-automatic handgun and the three fled in the car, Alikhan said.

The Honda was the getaway car used in the robbery, he said.

Pridgen and Wilkerson entered the credit union in the evening, shortly before closing time. They wore knit caps pulled down over their faces, with eye holes cut out of the fabric, Alikhan said. About 15 people were inside, including customers and employees.

Pridgen, armed with the handgun, ordered everyone on the floor, Alikhan said. “Pridgen threatened to start shooting unless he was given the keys to the vault,” he said. Wilkerson stood guard, armed with a shotgun.

The two forced the credit union manager to open the vault and they took about $210,000 before fleeing, Alikhan said.

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As Pridgen and Wilkerson drove away, a dye pack that had been included with the money exploded, filling the car with tear gas and red dye.

Wilkerson jumped out of the moving car. Pridgen continued on and met up with McClain, who was waiting with a second getaway car, Alikhan said. Pridgen abandoned the Honda and a portion of the red-stained cash.

McClain was arrested Dec. 23 and Wilkerson on Dec. 31, both in Lancaster. Pridgen was arrested Jan. 15 in Las Vegas. Law enforcement officials recovered about $96,000 of the stolen cash, including a bundle that had been stashed in the safe at a Holiday Inn in Hollywood, Alikhan said.

Pridgen was convicted by a jury in May of carjacking, conspiracy, armed robbery and two counts of committing a violent crime with a firearm.

Wilkerson pleaded guilty to armed robbery and committing a violent crime while using a firearm. His sentence was increased for his involvement in the carjacking, Alikhan said.

McClain pleaded guilty to conspiracy, armed robbery and using a firearm in a violent crime. He testified against Pridgen, Alikhan said.

“We got what we asked for,” he said.

Warrants have been issued for Pridgen and Wilkerson who are suspected in robberies at least 10 other businesses in the Antelope Valley, Alikhan said. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office has yet to file charges.