Ohio woman gets 5 years in $8M heist

By JOE MILICIA

Associated Press Writer

AKRON, Ohio (AP) -- A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced a woman to five years in prison for helping her boyfriend steal about $8 million from an armored car company.

Nicole Boyd, 25, of Youngstown admitted to investigators that she stole the money with Roger Dillon to escape financial hardship. Boyd and Dillon pleaded guilty in March to bank larceny and other charges.

Wiping away tears several times, Boyd, whose long red hair made her look like a different person from the mug shot after she was captured, told the judge in a quiet voice that she was sorry for what she did and learned a lot from it.

Boyd faced a maximum of 25 years in prison but was expected to receive less under federal sentencing guidelines. Boyd's attorney noted that his client had no prior criminal record.

Federal prosecutors said the heist last November was one of the largest thefts ever in northern Ohio.

In giving Boyd a lesser sentence, U.S. District Court Judge John R. Adams said Boyd had accepted responsibility, wasn't the mastermind of the plot and noted her behavior while out on bond.

Boyd has remained employed, been active in her church and has re-established a relationship with her 5-year-old son.

The judge, however, wanted to know what her relationship was with Dillon, saying it concerned him.

"I still love Roger," Boyd replied but added she hadn't been in contact with him for some time.

Dillon, 23, who faces a maximum of 25 years in prison, was scheduled to be sentenced Thursday, along with his mother, Sharon Lee Gregory, 49, of Youngstown. She could get up to 15 years after pleading guilty to charges that she conspired with the two and helped the couple make their getaway with the money to West Virginia.

The FBI has said the theft at AT Systems was timed so that large amounts of money would be available after the busy post-Thanksgiving holiday shopping weekend.

Dillon had been employed by the company for about nine months as a driver and messenger.

On Nov. 26, Dillon disguised with a cap and hood, entered the building using another employee's security code, the government said. He removed a security video tape and kept the lights off in case there was another camera.

He pulled a truck into a garage, loaded it with bags and reset the alarm.

Boyd sat inside the truck and helped pull the bags inside, according to her statement to authorities.

About $6.7 million in cash was taken, according to an FBI agent who detailed the allegations in court in January. The rest was in checks.

The couple drove to West Virginia, where they met Gregory. The trio spent part of the next four days counting the money and the FBI -- tipped by West Virginia receipts found in Boyd's abandoned pickup truck -- showed up one day later.

The plea agreements in March disclosed that Dillon financed the plan with $50,000 smuggled out of a JP Morgan Chase Bank in Akron on Aug. 8 during an armored-car pickup.

The cash and checks were found stacked in a mobile home where the couple fled about 250 miles away in Pipestem, W.Va. All but $3,500 was recovered.