Five armed men dressed as law enforcement officers when they broke into homes across Florida, Georgia and Arizona and handcuffed the homeowners as they stole their belongings, authorities have announced.
The group – made up of Florida men Darius Hudson, Chrishawn De’Earl Butler, Daniel Jackson, Reginald Robert Jr and Nathaniel Carr – drove around in a black Dodge Durango and a white Chevrolet Malibu equipped with blue flashing lights and wearing all black gloves, clothes, mask and jacket with “Sheriff” emblazoned on it, the Justice Department said.
They targeted people believed to be dealing narcotics when they woke up families in the middle of the night between December 2020 and April 2021, according to prosecutors.
The group would then allegedly handcuff their victims, and beat, pistol whip and sometimes shoot the home owners as they ran away with their belongings.
In one incident described in the affidavit, the five men broke into what they believed to be a marijuana farm, while three people were sleeping inside.
“The suspect proceeded to forcefully move the victim into the living room and pistol whip them,” FBI agents wrote in an affidavit obtained by Law & Crime.
Five men allegedly dressed as law enforcement officers when they broke into homes across Florida, Georgia and Arizona between December 2020 and April 2021. Attorney General’s Office
“They demanded cash and began to search the residence,” the agent wrote. “The suspects stole two Apple iPhones and an 18-carat gold chain necklace” before they “ran through the front door and gunshots were heard from the common area where the suspects fled.”
Another time, FBI agents wrote, the suspect hit a home in Lakeland, Fl. “Known to be associated with a known drug dealer… who also runs an illegal gambling business at the residence.”
Police were later called to the scene by a woman who claimed her brother was hit over the head and shot, before the suspect fled.
When police arrived, they found “blood dripping from the porch to the bathroom located on the first floor” and determined that the rifle had been stolen, according to the affidavit.
The men allegedly targeted people believed to be dealing narcotics when they woke families in the middle of the night, and would handcuff, beat and whip their victims. Attorney General’s Office
Butler, Roberts and Carr would later plead guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing and discharging a firearm in the commission of a crime, the Justice Department announced.
The trio also apparently identified their other partners as Jackson and Hudson —- who were found guilty this week of conspiracy to commit three separate Hobbs Act robberies and discharging a gun during a crime of violence.
Jasmine Weber, 28, of Tampa, was also sentenced in December for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, according to the Fort Myers News-Press.
A violation of the Hobbs Act occurs when actual or attempted robbery or extortion affects interstate or foreign commerce.
Authorities said an accomplice bought gang paraphernalia such as sheriff’s jackets, law enforcement patches and light bars for the gang to carry out their robberies. Attorney General’s Office
Authorities said Weber knew the members were going to commit crimes by pretending to be law enforcement — even buying gear like sheriff’s vests, law enforcement patches and light bars for the gang to carry out their robberies.
The gang members would also allegedly provide Weber with information about their potential victims, and he would use his job as a claims coordinator to find their home addresses.
The three men who pleaded guilty to the crime now face a mandatory minimum sentence of 14 years to life in prison, while Hudson, 44, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 27 years and life in prison.
The gang members would also allegedly provide Weber with information about their potential victims, and he would use his job as a claims coordinator to find their home addresses. Attorney General’s Office
Weber also faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for his role.
A sentencing date has not been set, and Jackson is still awaiting trial.
It is unclear whether he has retained a lawyer who can speak on his behalf.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
