RICHMOND, Va. – Antonio E. Smith, 21, of Richmond, Va, was sentenced today to 471 months in prison for his role in eleven commercial robberies in the Richmond area.  Targeting gas stations, fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and groceries, Smith and his accomplice’s crime spree netted over $5,000 in proceeds from these robberies. 

            Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Daniel Kumor, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division; and Bryan Norwood, Chief, Richmond Police Department, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Robert E. Payne.

            Smith pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement on December 9, 2011, to four counts of Robbery Affecting Interstate Commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a), and two counts of
Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).  Smith’s convictions included the following robberies:

            ▪           May 5, 2011, robbery of McDonald’s Restaurant, located at 821 Hull Street, Richmond, Virginia;

            ▪           May 31, 2011, robbery of Lucky’s Convenience Store, located at 418 Cowardin Avenue, Richmond, Virginia;

            ▪           June 10, 2011, robbery of Virginia Food Mart, located at 3416 Jefferson Davis Highway, Richmond, Virginia; and

            ▪           August 5, 2011, robbery of Allied Cash Advance, located at 4721 Walmsley Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia.

According to court documents, from April 30, 2011, through August 5, 2011, Smith participated in the robbery of eleven commercial establishments in the Richmond area.  During each of the robberies, Smith and his accomplice entered into stores armed with either a shotgun or bb gun and demanded money from an employee.  On five of the robberies, Smith carried the shotgun.  A total of at least $5,189 was obtained by the defendant and his accomplices as proceeds from these robberies. 

            In his plea documents, Smith admitted to committing seven other robberies.  These robberies included the robbery of the BP Amoco, located at 2869 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia, on April 30, 2011, in which Young was armed with a shotgun; the robbery of the Forest Hill Market, located at 7500 Forest Hill Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, on May 25, 2011, in which Smith was armed with a shotgun; the robbery of Speed Mart, located at 2700 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia, on June 5, 2011, in which Smith was armed with a shotgun; the robbery of the Lucky’s Convenience Store, located at 418 Cowardin Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, on July 25, 2011, in which Young was armed with a bb handgun; the robbery of the Fine Food Superette, located at 700 Idlewood Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, on July 31, 2011, in which Smith was armed with a bb handgun; the robbery of the EZ Mart located at 1437 Hopkins Road, Richmond, Virginia, on August 2, 2011, in which Young was armed with a bb handgun; and the robbery of the Seven-Eleven, located at 6824 Forest Hill Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, on August 5, 2011, in which Young was armed with a bb handgun.

            This case was investigated by the ATF and the Richmond Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys Erik S. Siebert and Peter S. Duffey prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

            A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.

 

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