Two men convicted of Burbank armed robbery

Jenna Bordelon

BURBANK -- Two men were sentenced to a total of 586 years in prison

for a series of takeover robberies, including one at Enterprise Recording

Studios in Burbank.

Robert Smith and Derek Matthews, both 30 and from Los Angeles, were

sentenced in Van Nuys Superior Court in October on more than 30 counts of

robbery and false imprisonment, Deputy Dist. Atty. Anna K. Phillips said.

Smith was sentenced to 525 years to life, but only has to fulfill 85%

of his sentence -- 446 years, Phillips said. Matthews was sentenced to 61

years and must serve at least 52.

Phillips said Smith, whose conviction was his third strike, seemed

resigned at the sentencing, but Matthews was not as calm.

“Matthews was crying on the stand and begging the judge to give him

some leniency,” Phillips said. “[Judge Michelle Rosenblatt] could have

given more time but it’s not going to make a difference because that’s

basically his whole life.”

Smith and Matthews, along with three accomplices, walked into

Enterprise at 1845 Empire Ave. in July 1997, posing as customers looking

for recording space.

Phillips said the criminals pulled out guns, tied everyone up with

their own shoelaces and made off with recording equipment and personal

items worth more than $60,000 from the frightened hostages.

The two men had been caught on tape a week earlier robbing Paramount

Recording Studios in Hollywood.

Smith was arrested in October or November of 1997 and Matthews in

December 1997, Phillips said. Smith was also convicted of a home invasion

robbery that took place in 1997.

Phillips said the accomplices from the Enterprise robbery pleaded

guilty to only the one armed robbery.

“I think after Paramount, [Smith and Matthews] realized they needed

more people, so they could get more stuff,” Phillips said. “They

obviously improved their technique.”

Phillips said both men were former Bloodstone Villains gang members

from south Los Angeles.