DALLAS - A Grand Prairie woman has been federally indicted after investigators say she tried to arrange an armed robbery of the Golden Chick restaurant where she worked, providing an undercover operative with employee schedules, security information and directions to the restaurant's safe.
Laura Gonzalez, 44, was indicted Sept. 1 on a charge of attempting to interfere with commerce by robbery.
According to a federal criminal complaint, Gonzalez communicated between Aug. 3 and Aug. 6 with a person she believed could help carry out the robbery. That person was working undercover with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and connected Gonzalez with an ATF special agent.
Investigators said Gonzalez wanted the group to rob the Golden Chick at 3051 E. Mayfield Road in Grand Prairie.
The complaint alleges Gonzalez provided detailed information about the restaurant's operations, including employee schedules, surveillance camera locations, the location and status of the safe and how much cash could be available.
She allegedly told the undercover operatives they could enter through an unlocked rear door and provided a hand-drawn sketch showing the restaurant's interior layout.
Federal investigators said Gonzalez repeatedly encouraged them to conduct the robbery during the early morning while employees were inside.
Gonzalez also allegedly discussed using firearms during the robbery. Prosecutors said she planned to be working at the restaurant when it happened so she would appear to be another victim and avoid suspicion.
In return, Gonzalez allegedly wanted a portion of the proceeds, which she estimated would total between $3,000 and $4,000.
On Aug. 6, investigators said Gonzalez sent a video recorded from inside the Golden Chick showing the route to the safe and the restaurant's digital video recorder used for its surveillance system.
ATF agents arrested Gonzalez later that day before the planned robbery occurred. No one was injured.
If convicted, Gonzalez faces up to 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release.
The ATF Dallas Field Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. attorneys with the Violent Crime Section are prosecuting.
