Suspects plead to string of robberies
By Staff Reports
Published in News on November 6, 2011 1:50 AM
RALEIGH -- Two more suspects have pleaded guilty in connection with a series of robberies committed in Wayne and Wilson counties between January and April 2010.
Anthony David Brown, 23, and Derrick Dove Jr., 21, each pleaded guilty in federal court Monday before Chief United State District Judge James C. Dever III to conspiring to commit Hobbs Act robbery and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Brown also pleaded guilty to an additional count of aiding and abetting the use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
According to court documents, from January 25, 2010, to April 14, 2010, Brown and Dove along with their co-defendants, Ivory Javaughntae Harris, Malcolm Jamal Artis, Antonio Deonte Jones and Domonic Devarrise Usher, committed 10 robberies in Wayne and Wilson counties.
Artis and Jones pleaded guilty Oct. 3. Their sentencings are currently set for Feb. 6. Harris pleaded guilty Oct. 17. His sentencing is also currently scheduled for February.
At sentencing, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge and up to a life term of imprisonment consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed for each of the aiding and abetting charges.
According to the investigation, the same method was used in each robbery -- the defendants entered the store fully disguised, one defendant brandishing a handgun while the others seized the cash drawer from the register and/or cash from the safe, and then the robbers would flee in a car driven by a co-conspirator.
The robberies included:
* Jan. 25: Brown, Artis, Jones, and Usher, robbed the Dollar General Store on U.S. 13, Goldsboro.
* Jan. 27: Brown and Usher robbed the Dollar General Store on George Street, Goldsboro.
* Feb. 19: Artis, Harris, Jones, and Usher robbed the Dollar General Store on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, Wilson.
* Feb. 23: Brown, Artis, Harris, and Usher robbed the Dollar General Store on U.S. 117, Goldsboro.
* March 11: Brown, Artis, Dove, and Harris, robbed the Handi-Mart Store, U.S. 70 in Goldsboro.
* March 11: Brown and Artis robbed the Pantry-Kangaroo Store on East Ash Street, Goldsboro.
* March 13: Brown, Artis, Harris, Jones, and Usher, again robbed the Dollar General Store on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, Wilson.
* March 16: Brown and Jones robbed the Subway Store on Patetown Road, Goldsboro.
* April 3: Brown and Dove robbed the Andy's Store located on Five Points Road, Goldsboro.
* April 14: Brown and Dove robbed the Family Dollar Store located on Dr. Donnie Jones Boulevard in Princeton. In the course of each of these robberies a firearm was used.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified "team effort" against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Goldsboro Police Department; the Wayne County Sheriff's Office; and the Wilson Police Department.