A man confesses to the well-planned, horrifying robbery of a Montgomery business owner.

On Friday, Zedekiah Sykes, 58, pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery, a significant federal felony that is utilized in situations where robberies that impact interstate commerce involve violence or threats. Due to his involvement in the March attack that left a prominent Montgomery businessman traumatized, battered, and bound inside his own dry cleaners, he now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail.

Federal prosecutors claim that this was a scheme that had been developing for months rather than a crime of opportunity.

A Crime Disguised as Construction Equipment

For Jim Massey, the proprietor of a well-known local chain of dry cleaners, it all started on March 10 at approximately 6:10 p.m., an apparently typical evening. Massey was working inside his company when someone knocked on the door. He was accosted by four individuals wearing utility worker attire, complete with hard hats and high-vis vests, when he went to make sure.

Massey was compelled by the impersonators to enter an office where his safe was kept. One of the men struck him in the eye when he admitted that he could not recall the combination, while another took out his cell phone to assist in opening the safe. The theft was from $6,000 to $8,000 in total.

However, the assailants did not end there. They seized Massey's personal cell phone and auto keys, ripped out the company phones, zip-tied his hands and feet, and took off in his car after stealing the money.

Later, surveillance footage on Noble Avenue showed the suspects leaving the scene while taking off their outer clothing, a careless yet telling move.

An Inquiry With Numerous Turns

The Montgomery Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the FBI, and the Metro Area Crime Suppression Task Force were all involved in the multi-agency investigation that was initiated by the case. A few days later, as the hunt intensified, two guys came up to Massey, saying they knew what had happened and demanding money in return for information. During their questioning, investigators unearthed a terrifying confession: they said that Sykes had planned the entire heist and had even enlisted their help, but they later withdrew.

Their story presented an unsettling image. Federal filings claim that Sykes had scouted Massey's residence and place of business. He intended to target Massey at his home if the heist at the store did not succeed. The assailants were originally supposed to wear black, but since the crime would be committed during the day, Sykes subsequently proposed that they wear construction clothes to look like they were employed by Alabama Power.

Parts of this story were eventually confirmed by investigators using a confidential source, who also identified Sykes as the mastermind.

Is His Getaway Car His Home?

Investigators started pursuing Sykes after spotting him at Wind Creek Casino on March 21. Agents saw him unlock the trunk of his Buick while he was being tailed back to Montgomery. They discovered a sizable duffle bag inside that looked like it had been used during the heist. The discovery of plastic bottles filled with pee, however, was even stranger and prompted officials to conclude that Sykes was residing in the car.

There were other hints in the Buick. The evidence against Sykes was strengthened by the fact that he had used his credit card to buy safety jackets and hard hats that matched those worn during the heist.

An Arrest Again And a Journey to Las Vegas

Sykes was working with others.Investigators said that while Thomas was involved in the crime, Sykes was the ringleader, the one who planned, recruited, and coordinated all of the disturbing details.Federal prosecutors are urging a maximum penalty for Sykes, but the sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

A Shaken Community

Many people in Montgomery have been shaken by the case because of its daring as well as its violence. The picture of a well-known local company owner being attacked in his own store, which is meant to be a secure environment, has moved people. The surrealistic aspect of it all is further enhanced by the notion that someone might reside in their getaway automobile while planning such a carefully concealed crime.

One thing is evident as the court proceedings progress: this was more than a simple heist. It was a well-planned act of violence and dishonesty that had the potential to go far worse. Justice is now at last catching up.