United States Attorney James L. Santelle announced that Richard A. James Jr., (age: 23), was sentenced on May 8, 2015, to 44 months of imprisonment, followed by a three year term of supervised release. The sentence was the result of a guilty plea by James on January 26, 2015, to Count One of a federal indictment charging him with one count of robbery of a convenience store and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm.

The investigation revealed that on July 29, 2014, James entered Martin’s Hillstop convenience store on the Menominee Reservation, held a store clerk and others at knife point, and demanded liquor and cigarettes. After getting the demanded items, James ran from the store and was confronted by officers. James threatened the officers with the knife and led the officers on a chase down the roadway, halting traffic. Menominee Tribal police officers and Menominee County deputies eventually took James into custody.

This case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin L. Whittemore.