In March 2021, a brazen armed robbery took place at an upscale restaurant in Beverly Hills, California. The incident involved three gang members who targeted a man wearing a $500,000 Richard Mille watch. As the victim sat in the outdoor dining area of Il Pastaio restaurant, the robbers held him at gunpoint. During a struggle for the weapon, at least two rounds were discharged, one of which hit another diner in the leg. The suspects, Malik Lamont Powell, Khai McGhee (also known as Cameron Smith), and Marquise Anthony Gardon, were arrested and faced federal charges related to the robbery and shooting. Powell and McGhee pleaded guilty to several felonies, including conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Gardon also pleaded guilty to two counts and is scheduled for sentencing. The incident was a shocking event, especially given that the perpetrators were not mobsters but FBI agents. The case highlights the importance of accountability and ensuring that such actions are never repeated.
The total value of the seized contents during the FBI raid at the private security-deposit box company in Beverly Hills, California, was over one hundred million dollars. Box holders lost their life savings, family heirlooms, important documents, and more.