Detroit Men Sentenced to 35 and 57 Years for 2010 Wayne County Armed Robbery Spree

Antwann Baker, 27 and Johnny Baker, 28, both of Detroit, were sentenced today in federal district court on charges of interference with commerce by robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, announced United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade. McQuade was joined in the announcement by Andrew G. Arena, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Antwann Baker was sentenced to 35 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Johnny Baker was sentence to 58 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Both defendants were sentenced by the Honorable George Caram Steeh.

These sentences demonstrate the kind of impact federal prosecution can have on violent crime,” McQuade said. “Criminals should be aware that serious gun crimes will bring serious consequences.”

The following facts were established at the time of the guilty plea and through information provided to the court at sentencing:

Antwann Baker and his co-defendant/cousin Johnny Baker engaged in a series of 13 armed robberies in the first half of 2010. The criminal conduct occurred between January 13, 2010 and July 8, 2010 and primarily involved Family Dollar stores in Detroit, Warren, and Dearborn. The two, armed with a handgun and shotgun robbed nine Family Dollar Stores, and robbed the stores of approximately $7,500 in total.

Additionally, other stores were included in the spree. They were:

Smokers Avenue, Westland, Michigan, 2/15/2010—Defendants threatened a store clerk with a shotgun and stole approximately $12, 300 in cigarettes and cash. The cashier was forced to a bathroom and bound with duct tape.

Cash Advance, Westland, Michigan, 4/23/2010—Defendants robbed the clerk at gunpoint. They threatened the cashier, jumped counter, and bound the clerk with duct tape. $1,800 in cash was taken.

The Smoke Shop, Garden City, Michigan, July 8, 2010—Defendants entered the “Smoke Shop” and after feigning buying lottery tickets, demanded money at gunpoint. Antwann Baker, while racking the handgun he possessed to demonstrate his level of seriousness, discharged the gun striking the clerk. The defendants then restrained the clerk with handcuffs. They then fled with an undetermined amount of cash.

In total, the losses from all of the thefts were nearly $24,000.

Investigative efforts of local law enforcement agencies and the Federal Bureau of Investigation resulted in the ultimate apprehension of the two.

One of the factors noted by the United States at sentencing, and that contributed to Johnny Bakers’ higher sentence was a criminal history that included previous convictions for armed robbery.

The cooperative efforts of the Detroit, Westland, and Garden City Police Departments, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were recognized and applauded by U.S. Attorney McQuade.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jeanine Brunson and John O’Brien of the office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit prosecuted the case for the United States.