Houston resident heads to prison for armed robbery of local Waffle House

HOUSTON – A 32-year-old man has been sentenced for Hobbs Act robbery and related firearms charges, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Deonta Rashawn Brown pleaded guilty March 7.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now ordered Brown to serve 162 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Brown must also pay restitution to the victims. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the traumatic impact Brown’s crime had on his victims.

At the time of the plea, Brown admitted to aiding and abetting interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting use, carry and brandish of a firearm during a crime of violence.

On Oct. 24, 2019, Brown robbed a Waffle House restaurant in the 1200 block of Wilson Road in Houston with Fabian Bradley. Bradley brandished a pistol during the attack. Together, the two stole an employee’s mobile phone and a small amount of cash from the restaurant.

This robbery was one of three that law enforcement believe the duo committed that night – including another Waffle House restaurant and a gas station convenience store.

The three robberies occurred within approximately one hour of each other, beginning at 10:57 p.m. and ending shortly after midnight. The robbery locations appeared to have been carefully chosen in either a low-traffic area or close to I-69 – which would allow the co-conspirators to make a quick getaway from each scene.

Bradley, 22, also pleaded guilty and previously received a sentence of 168 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.

Brown has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation along with police departments in Humble and Houston. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Ganz and Joseph Porto prosecuted the case.