A woman who may have planned an ambush-style armed robbery at a Villages restaurant had been evicted twice and battled one of the suspects for overdue child support.
Chelsea Holland, 27, was transferred Tuesday morning from the Lake County Jail to the Sumter County Jail. She is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and robbery after the early Saturday morning heist at Gators Dockside at Brownwood. Her bond has been set at $70,000.
Three masked suspects entered the office at the restaurant at about 1 a.m. Saturday and fled with bank bags filled with cash, a cash drawer and an iPhone. The iPhone proved to be the thieves’ downfall, as it enabled law enforcement to track them to an apartment in Fruitland Park.
While Holland was not at the scene of the robbery, one of the suspects said she was the brains beyond the operation. Damieum Hurst, 19, of Ocala, who was allegedly armed with a firearm during the robbery, told law enforcement that Holland expected to receive a “cut of the money.”
Holland has struggled with financial challenges over the past several years, according to documents on file in Lake County Court.
Holland and fellow robbery suspect 29-year-old Bradley McGary, in 2017 had been targeted for eviction after falling behind on their rent at an apartment at 200 Church St. in Leesburg.
Holland in 2011 went after McGary for back child support, ultimately landing him in jail in 2012 for failure to meet his financial obligations.
In 2011, Holland also faced eviction from the Laurel Oaks Apartments in Leesburg.
Both Holland and McGary have been arrested for driving while their licenses were suspended.
McGary and Hurst also have been transferred from the Lake County Jail to the Sumter County Jail. Bond for each is set at $200,000.
The status of a 15-year-old juvenile, believed to be the third bandit, is unclear.
