Trio convicted of a series of Suffolk armed robberies and attempting to cover their trail

NORFOLK, Va. – A federal jury convicted three Virginians yesterday for a series of armed robberies in Suffolk and attempting to dispose of evidence.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from November 2020 through February 2022, Harvey Lee Lewis IV, aka Hurricane, 36, of Suffolk, and Dennis Lee Adamson Jr., 29, of Portsmouth, planned and carried out a series of armed robberies of convenience stores.  In several of the robberies, Lewis discharged his semiautomatic firearm into the ceiling of the store as he entered, terrifying the employees and customers.

Lewis and Dennis Adamson robbed four convenience stores between Nov. 10, 2020, and Nov. 20, 2020, including two stores on the same date.  Over a year later, on Feb. 3, 2022, the two men robbed the EZ Food Mart & Deli in Suffolk, during which Dennis Adamson brandished a pistol at customers and Lewis fired several rounds, narrowly missing a store employee, before Lewis grabbed a cash register and the two men fled the store.

In addition to these robberies, Lewis and Dennis Adamson committed robberies separately.  Lewis robbed a 7-Eleven convenience store on Feb. 1, 2022.  On Oct. 14, 2022, several months after Lewis had been identified and arrested, Dennis Adamson robbed a Dollar General store in Portsmouth.

On Feb. 15, 2022, while he was in pre-trial detention, Lewis had a video call with Ieisha Marie Adamson, 32, of Portsmouth. During the call, Lewis directed Ieisha Adamson to remove items from his vehicle, including a box of ammunition from a secret compartment in the vehicle, which law enforcement had not discovered during a search of the vehicle the week prior. Lewis then directed Ieisha Adamson to leave the scene. When police encountered Ieisha Adamson approximately two hours later, she no longer had the box of ammunition.

Lewis was convicted of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by means of robbery, six counts of interference with commerce by means of robbery, three counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Lewis faces a mandatory minimum of 24 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on Sept. 19.

Dennis Adamson was convicted of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by means of robbery, six counts of interference with commerce by means of robbery, and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Dennis Adamson faces a mandatory minimum of 17 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on Sept. 19. 

Ieisha Adamson was convicted of accessory after the fact and misprision of a felony, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced on Sept. 19.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and James Buie, Interim Chief of Suffolk Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker accepted the verdict.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the Portsmouth Police Department and Western Tidewater Regional Jail for their assistance in this investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan M. Montoya and Anthony Mozzi are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-62.