The first of four suspects involved in the armed robbery of Montgomery businessman Jim Massey III has been arrested and is facing federal charges.
Zedekiah Sykes, 58, was apprehended by U.S. Marshals on Wednesday, following an investigation that led to the unsealing of his criminal complaint on Friday. Sykes now faces serious charges, including armed robbery, carjacking, and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime. The robbery took place on March 10, 2025, at Jim Massey’s Cleaners on South Street in Montgomery.
According to reports, Sykes and three accomplices forcibly entered Massey’s business at around 6:20 p.m., tied him up, and beat him. They held a gun to his head and demanded the code to the business’s safe. At one point, Sykes reportedly punched Massey, leaving him with a bloodied and bruised eye. The suspects stole between $6,000 and $8,000 from the safe and fled in a vehicle stolen from the cleaners.
Surveillance footage from the business captured the suspects, all of whom were dressed in white hard hats and safety vests, making them appear as if they were part of a construction crew. Investigators later learned that the crime had been months in the planning, with the suspects originally intended to wear all black before Sykes suggested they dress as construction workers to blend in.
The breakthrough in the case came when two unidentified individuals came forward on March 19, claiming to know about the robbery. They told authorities that Sykes had orchestrated the crime, offering them money to participate in the robbery. The tipsters, who later backed out of the plan, provided valuable details that led investigators to Sykes.
Further investigation revealed that Sykes had used a credit card to purchase hard hats and safety vests at a local Walmart between December 2024 and February 2025. Surveillance also revealed a large duffel bag in the trunk of Sykes’ vehicle, similar to one seen in the robbery video.
Sykes was placed under surveillance by the FBI, Montgomery Police, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), and the Metro Area Crime Suppression Task Force. He was arrested on federal charges following these discoveries.
Sykes’ arrest marks a significant step in the investigation, which remains ongoing. Authorities are still working to apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the robbery.
If convicted, Sykes could face seven years to life in federal prison, with no possibility of parole.
This case is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating violent crime and organized criminal activity.
