NORFOLK, Va. – A federal jury convicted two males final Friday on expenses associated to conspiracy to intrude with commerce by way of theft.
In line with court docket data and proof introduced at trial, Harold Spencer, 32, and Jon Morgan, 32, had been members of a five-man armed theft crew that had been apprehended on March 18 after a high-speed pursuit by means of Virginia Seashore following an tried theft of a Tiger Mart gasoline station. A pursuing Virginia Seashore police cruiser’s sprint digicam captured the lads throwing a number of loaded weapons from their automobile. Solely after spike strips had been deployed a number of occasions, did the automobile lastly come to a cease. All males had been apprehended, and police recovered ski masks and gloves from inside their car. The clothes and sneakers every of them was sporting matched what could possibly be seen in video surveillance from six prior armed robberies. One robber wore a NASA sweatshirt on the first two of six robberies. He was arrested sporting that very same NASA sweatshirt.
The rental car they had been arrested in was traced again to the Norfolk Airport from the place it was rented. One of many co-conspirators caught on the airport video sporting purple sneakers was caught later that night time on surveillance committing an armed theft of the Jr. Market in Norfolk sporting purple sneakers. Spencer, who shot at a fleeing buyer in the course of the second of six-armed robberies, took a “selfie” on his cellular phone sporting a ski masks worn in all six robberies—a ski masks, which was recovered after the high-speed pursuit and later was proven to comprise his DNA. His cellular phone additionally contained pictures of his co-conspirator holding a handgun with a drum journal, a number of Glock firearms according to these thrown from the fleeing car, photos of huge sums of money, and lottery tickets.
The armed theft crew stole money, cigarettes, and lottery tickets. Investigators from the Virginia Lottery acquired alerts from comfort shops the place makes an attempt had been made by Spencer and his co-conspirator, Kareem Ross, to money the stolen tickets. Investigators pulled the surveillance video from these makes an attempt and recognized each males. Moreover, by means of a shoe impression skilled from the Virginia Division of Forensic Science, investigators had been capable of join the sneakers Spencer was arrested in with a raise of an impression made on the Arrowhead Meals Mart he had robbed on March 5. These sneakers could possibly be seen in any respect six armed robberies Spencer had dedicated.
A number of months earlier than to this conduct, Morgan had accomplished a previous jail sentence for armed theft.
Spencer faces a compulsory minimal sentence of 31 years and a most penalty of life in jail when. Morgan faces a most sentence of 40 years. Each males will likely be sentenced on June 2, 2023. Precise sentences for federal crimes are usually lower than the utmost penalties. A federal district court docket decide will decide any sentence after bearing in mind the U.S. Sentencing Pointers and different statutory elements.
Co-conspirators Kareem Ross, 32, of Hampton; Marvin Lockhart, Jr., 32, of Virginia Seashore; and Roshaun Griffin, 34, of Virginia Seashore, pleaded responsible to their roles within the conspiracy. They’re scheduled to be sentenced on February 16, March 3, and February 23, 2023, respectively.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Lawyer for the Jap District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Particular Agent in Cost of the FBI’s Norfolk Area Workplace; and Paul W. Neudigate, Chief of Police, Virginia Seashore Police Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Decide Arenda Wright Allen accepted the decision.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe DePadilla and John F. Butler are prosecuting the case.
A replica of this press launch is situated on the web site of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Jap District of Virginia. Associated court docket paperwork and knowledge are situated on the web site of the District Court for the Jap District of Virginia or on PACER by looking for Case No. 2:20-cr-106.
