Convicted serial robber gets 21+ years for stealing from Houston cellphone stores

HOUSTON – A 25-year-old Houston-area man has been sentenced for committing a three-day robbery spree in 2021 which took place just months after his release from prison for another robbery conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Quantez Whiteside pleaded guilty Feb. 20.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt has now ordered Whiteside to serve 72 months in federal prison for three counts of interfering with commerce by robbery and a consecutive 168 months for two counts of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The sentences will run consecutively. He also received another 18 months for committing these crimes while on federal supervised release for a prior robbery conviction to be served consecutively. His total 258-month-term of imprisonment will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that committing robberies is not an appropriate way to provide for one’s family.

“As this spree progressed, the robber got sloppy and left his cell number, which essentially served as breadcrumbs leading investigators right to him,” said Hamdani. “Evidently, previously serving two years in federal prison was not enough to deter him from committing these crimes. With today’s sentence, he will have ample opportunity to reflect on his actions and the detrimental impact they had on the victims.”

During the spree, Whiteside unlawfully and forcibly took cellphones and U.S. currency from inside three different Houston-area Metro by T-Mobile (formerly Metro PCS) stores.

Just six months earlier, Whiteside had been released from federal prison after serving a two-year sentence for his role in robbing a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver in 2018.

On Jan. 25, 2021, Whiteside robbed a Metro by T-Mobile store on West Bellfort Road. He pointed a gun at employees, instructed them to get on the ground and verbally threatened to kill them if they did not comply. He left the store with approximately 30 stolen cellphones plus cash.

Then, on Jan. 27 that same year, Whiteside entered a Metro by T-Mobile store on Bissonnet Street, pointed a handgun at employees and forced them to put phones in a pink backpack he brought with him. 

Just 30 minutes later, Whiteside entered another Metro by T-Mobile store on Beechnut Street telling an employee he wanted to purchase a phone. He provided his cell number. The employee entered this information into a computer before Whiteside fled with stolen goods. 

The phone number was linked to Whiteside’s registered customer account which led investigators to Whiteside’s residence where they found cell phones, firearms and the pink backpack.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Wirsing prosecuted the case.