April 24, 2015

Six Milwaukee Men Sentenced for Multiple Armed Robberies, Including Shooting of Store Clerk

United States Attorney James L. Santelle announced today that six Milwaukee men who were identified as being members of the “Open Door” robbery crew have been sentenced in federal court. Daunte Nichols (age: 21) was convicted of two counts of armed robbery affecting interstate commerce pursuant to the Hobbs Act, two counts of robbery of a financial institution, and one count of armed robbery of a financial institution. Nichols was also convicted of discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with his shooting of the store clerk during the armed robbery of a Citgo gas station on December 16, 2013. Nichols was sentenced to the ten-year mandatory term of imprisonment for discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence and 100 months’ imprisonment for the remaining armed robbery and robbery counts to be served consecutively to the ten-year mandatory term, for a total term of imprisonment of 220 months or 18 years and four months.

Marques Davis (age: 19), Montiez Vaughn (age: 19), and Joey James-Roby (age: 18) were convicted of one count of armed robbery affecting interstate commerce pursuant to the Hobbs Act, one count of armed robbery of a financial institution, and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. James-Roby was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 84 months and Davis and Vaughn were sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 70 months. Naquan Moore (age: 20) was convicted of two counts of armed robbery of a financial institution and one count of brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 108 months. Christopher Jones (age: 18) was convicted of two counts of robbery of a financial institution and one count of armed robbery of a financial institution and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 72 months.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the West Allis Police Department, the Milwaukee Police Department, the Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force, the Brown Deer Police Department, the Bayside Police Department and the Cudahy Police Department. The investigation revealed that members of the “Open Door” robbery crew committed at least 20 robberies, including multiple armed robberies, in the Milwaukee metropolitan area from December of 2013 until May of 2014. In addition to those members of the robbery crew prosecuted federally, four individuals are being prosecuted by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office and their cases are currently pending.

The Hobbs Act, passed by Congress in 1946, provides federal jurisdiction for cases involving violent, habitual criminals who commit armed robbery of businesses involved in interstate commerce. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office collaborate together to ensure that violent offenders are effectively prosecuted, making our communities safer for all.

These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret B. Honrath and Laura S. Kwaterski.