Five armed men disguised as law enforcement officers broke into homes in Florida, Georgia and Arizona and handcuffed the owners while stealing their belongings, authorities announced.
The group, comprised of Florida men Darius Hudson, Chrishawn De’Earl Butler, Daniel Jackson, Reginald Robert Jr and Nathaniel Carr, drove in a black Dodge Durango and a white Chevrolet Malibu equipped with blue flashing lights and wore black gloves and clothing. . masks and vests emblazoned with the word “Sheriff,” the Justice Department has said.
According to prosecutors, they targeted people they believed were distributing narcotics while waking up families in the middle of the night between December 2020 and April 2021.
The group then allegedly handcuffed their victims, beat them, pistol-whipped them, and sometimes even shot the homeowners as they took their belongings.
In one incident described in an affidavit, the five men invaded a home they believed was a marijuana farm, while three people slept inside.
“The suspects proceeded to forcibly move the victims into the living room and pistol whipped them,” an FBI agent wrote in the affidavit obtained by Law & Crime.
Five men allegedly disguised as law enforcement officers broke into homes in Florida, Georgia and Arizona between December 2020 and April 2021. State Attorney’s Office
“They demanded cash and began searching the residence,” the agent wrote. “The suspects stole two Apple iPhones and an 18-karat gold chain link necklace” before “fleeing out the front door and gunshots were heard coming from the general area where the suspects had fled.”
On another occasion, the FBI agent wrote, the suspects attacked a home in Lakeland, Florida. “He is known to be associated with a known drug dealer … who also operated an illegal gambling business at the residence.”
A woman later called police to the scene and claimed her brother was hit in the head and shot, before the suspects fled.
When police arrived, they found “droplets of blood going from the porch to the bathroom located on the first floor” and determined that a rifle had been stolen, according to the affidavit.
The men allegedly targeted people they believed were distributing narcotics while waking up families in the middle of the night, and handcuffed, beat, and pistol-whipped their victims. State Prosecutor’s Office
Butler, Roberts and Carr would later plead guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, Hobbs Act robbery, and brandishing and firing firearms to commit acts of violence, the Justice Department announced.
The three also reportedly identified their other co-conspirators as Jackson and Hudson, who were found guilty this week of conspiracy to commit three separate Hobbs Act robberies and discharging a weapon during a violent crime.
Jasmine Weber, 28, of Tampa, was also sentenced in December for conspiracy to commit robbery under the Hobbs Act, according to the Fort Myers News-Press.
Violations of the Hobbs Act occur when actual or attempted theft or extortion affects interstate or foreign commerce.
Authorities say an accomplice purchased equipment such as sheriff’s vests, police patches and light sticks from the group for the group to carry out their heists. State Prosecutor’s Office
Authorities say Weber knew members would carry out the crimes posing as law enforcement officers, and even purchased equipment such as sheriff’s vests, law enforcement patches and light sticks for the group to carry out their heists.
Members of the group would also allegedly provide Weber with information about their potential victims, and she would use her job as a claims adjuster to find their home addresses.
The three men who confessed to the crimes now face a mandatory minimum sentence of 14 years to life in prison, while Hudson, 44, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 27 years to life in prison.
Members of the group would also allegedly provide Weber with information about their potential victims, and she would use her job as a claims adjuster to find their home addresses. State Prosecutor’s Office
Weber also faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for his role.
Sentencing dates have not yet been set and Jackson is still awaiting trial.
It is unclear if he has hired an attorney who can speak on his behalf.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn