In 1992, tried and convicted four Los Angeles Crip gang members, including Calvin Springer, a member of the feared “Springer Family” (identified as such by the FBI) of Conspiracy, Armed Bank Robbery, and Use of Firearms in the first of what would become a string of violent gang takeover robberies perpetrated in Las Vegas. At the time, “takeover” robberies, while common in L.A., were a terrifying new crime in Las Vegas. The court, stating that the victim tellers could only have been abused more had they been killed, granted several upward departure motions, and sentences of up to thirty years were imposed.
See U.S. v Edmond, 43 F3d 472 (9th Cir. 1994) (published opinion)
