RICHMOND, Va. – Ryan O. Jones, age 29, of Richmond, Va., was sentenced today to twenty years in federal prison, to be followed by a term of five years of supervised release, for attempted robbery affecting commerce and discharging a firearm during and in relation to this crime of violence.  In addition, Jones was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,216.00 to his victims.  

            Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Daniel Kumor, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Washington Field Division; and Col. Thierry G. Dupuis, Chief of Police, Chesterfield Police Department, made the announcement after sentencing this morning by United States District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Jones pled guilty on December 2, 2011.

            According to court documents, on May 22, 2011, Jones entered The Marketplace convenience store on Jefferson Davis Highway in Richmond, Virginia.  He pulled his t-shirt up over his face, and, while brandishing a firearm, demanded money from the clerk.  Jones jumped over the counter and a struggle ensued during which Jones discharged his firearm, wounding the clerk.  Jones then fled the store.  Video footage and eyewitnesses established Jones as the robber. Jones had purchased the Smith & Wesson firearm that was used during this attempted robbery approximately two weeks earlier, on May 5, 2011 in Colonial Heights.

            During the course of the investigation of the Marketplace robbery, federal and state law enforcement agencies identified Jones as a suspect in a series of robberies.  In each one, he pulled his t-shirt up over his face, earning him the moniker “The T-Shirt Bandit.”   In pleading, Jones acknowledged his involvement in, and agreed to pay restitution for, the following robberies:

• March 18, 2010, Market Place #9, 7933 Jefferson Davis Highway, Richmond, Virginia;

• May 10, 2010, Miller Mart, Turner Road, Richmond, Virginia;

• June 14, 2010, Miller Mart 2910 Turner Road, Richmond, Virginia;

• August 27, 2010, attempted robbery of the Market Place #9, 7933 Jefferson Davis Highway, Richmond, Virginia;

• August 29, 2010, 301 Express Mart 2012 Maury Street, Richmond, Virginia;

• February 12, 2011, Miller Mart 2910 Turner Road, Richmond, Virginia; and

• May 22, 2011, attempted robbery of the Market Place # 9, 7933 Jefferson Davis Highway, Richmond, Virginia.

           
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Richmond Police Department, and the Chesterfield Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys Angela Mastandrea-Miller and Erik Siebert 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.justice.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 https://pcl.uscourts.gov.

 

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