Some family partnerships involve running a business or building a house together. For Myahl Chapman-Joseph and his father Deleon Joseph, the family enterprise was a terrifying spree of armed ATM robberies across Sacramento County.
A Sacramento County jury handed down a series of guilty verdicts, bringing a definitive halt to a violent campaign that terrorized unsuspecting bank customers. When you look at the mechanics of how this father-son duo operated, the details reveal a chilling level of coordination—and an equally predictable downfall.
Between September 9 and December 25, 2023, the pair targeted ATM locations belonging to Wells Fargo Bank and Golden 1 Credit Union. Over those few months, the dynamic was brutally simple. While customers pulled up to withdraw cash, Chapman-Joseph waited in the shadows. Wearing a mask to hide his face, he would ambush victims at gunpoint, demanding cash while threatening them with a firearm.
Meanwhile, Deleon Joseph parked nearby, serving as the getaway driver. It wasn't a one-off mistake born of desperation. Prosecutors from the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office pointed out that the crimes involved clear planning, sophistication, and premeditation. Nine different locations were hit, resulting in eight completed robberies and one failed attempt.
The Investigation and Arrest
Crime sprees fueled by quick cash at ATMs rarely end quietly, and this one was no exception. Local law enforcement launched a thorough investigation led by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office. By piecing together surveillance footage, vehicle patterns, and witness accounts, detectives quickly closed in on the suspects.
In February 2024, authorities arrested both men. A subsequent search of the defendants' residence turned up the physical evidence investigators needed: two firearms used during the armed holdups.
Having the guns recovered from the home tied the physical evidence directly to the eyewitness descriptions and security camera footage. It eliminated any reasonable doubt for the jury.
The Verdicts and Facing Decades Behind Bars
The legal fallout for the father-son team is severe. A Sacramento County jury convicted 24-year-old Myahl Chapman-Joseph of eight counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery. Jurors also found true the special allegations that he personally used a firearm during each offense. Because of the aggravated nature of the crimes, Chapman-Joseph now faces a staggering sentence of up to 46 years in state prison.
His father, Deleon Joseph, faced a slightly different set of charges because of his specific role as the driver. He was convicted of one count of robbery, with jurors finding true the allegation that he was armed with a firearm during the crime. Deleon Joseph faces a sentence of seven years in state prison.
Both men are scheduled to be sentenced on October 28, 2026, in Department 12C before the Honorable Laurel White.
Why ATM Robberies Keep Happening and How to Protect Yourself
ATM robberies like the ones committed by Chapman-Joseph and Joseph exploit a very specific vulnerability. When you are standing at an ATM, your attention is entirely focused on the screen, your PIN, and the cash dispenser. You are stationary, distracted, and physically vulnerable.
Law enforcement agencies consistently urge people to follow basic safety protocols to avoid becoming a target:
- Pick well-lit locations: Avoid standalone ATMs in dark, secluded areas, especially at night. Choose machines located inside bank lobbies or well-trafficked storefronts.
- Scan your surroundings: Look around before you approach the machine. If anything looks suspicious or if people are loitering nearby, keep driving.
- Keep your head up: Do not stare at your phone while walking up to or leaving an ATM. Maintain situational awareness at all times.
- Secure your cash immediately: Don't stand at the machine counting your money. Put your cash and cards away instantly and sort them out once you are locked inside your vehicle or a safe building.
Criminals look for easy targets who are distracted. Taking a few extra seconds to survey the area can disrupt a predator's plans before they even begin.
