Crip Gang Members Sentenced in Gas Station Robbery Spree

       Montgomery, Alabama – Tremane Darnell Carthen (37), Kevin Levarius Martin (27), and Scottie Jeroma Groce (26), all from Montgomery have been sentenced for their participation in a series of armed convenience store robberies, announced George L. Beck, Jr., United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.  Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Kristi K. Dubose, sentenced Martin to 13 years incarceration, followed by five years of supervised release. Groce and Carthen each received a sentence of 57 years and one month in jail, followed by five years of supervised release.

       Carthen, Martin and Groce were all either members of, or associated themselves with, the Crip street gang and in July of 2014, went on a crime spree in North Elmore County, Wetumpka, and Autauga County.

       Carthen, Martin, and Groce were indicted in November of 2015 for conspiracy, robbery, and gun charges.  These charges arose out of the three robbing the Chevron Service Station on U.S. Highway 31 North in Prattville, the Chevron Service Gas Station located on Alabama Highway 143, in Elmore County, and the Marathon Service Gas Station located on Coosa River Parkway in Wetumpka.  In August of 2016, Kevin Martin pleaded guilty to conspiracy, robbery, and pointing a gun at the victims during the robbery.  In September of 2016, Groce and Carthen, were tried and found guilty by a jury of conspiring with Martin to rob the three convenience stores, robbing the convenience stores, and pointing firearms at the victims while committing the robberies.

       “People should be free from the fear of violence in their homes and businesses,” stated U.S. Attorney Beck.  “One goal of my office has been and will continue to be vigorously prosecuting those violent criminals who victimize our citizens and to remove those illegal gun toters from the streets.  These lengthy sentences should give pause to those hoodlums who dare invade our homes and businesses.”

       “This investigation will have a lasting impact on reducing firearms-related gang violence in the tri-county area,” stated ATF Montgomery Resident Agent in Charge Jennifer Rudden Conway.  “The ATF Montgomery Field Office will continue to work closely with our counterparts in combating violent crime in the Middle District of Alabama,”

       The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Wetumpka Police Department, and the Alabama Department of Corrections.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Susan R. Redmond and Steven Lee.