Three Charged in Home Invasion Case

Three local men have been charged in connection with a violent home invasion and kidnapping that occurred in late November 2011 in Chickasaw, Alabama. A three-count indictment was returned by a federal grand jury against Zerrick Charles Robinson, 27; Brandon Jarrod Nobles, 27; and Miller Jerrell Griffin, 31, charging them with conspiracy to commit the offense of using and carrying a firearm in connection with a crime of violence, kidnapping, and a substantive count of brandishing a firearm in connection with the kidnapping. The charges carry the following penalties: count one, up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a supervised release term of five years; count two, up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a supervised release term of five years; count three, from 20 years to life imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and a supervised release term of five years.

The indictment alleges that the conspirators forcibly entered the victims’ residence, identifying themselves as FBI agents and police officers. The indictment alleges that the conspirators brandished firearms and demanded drugs and money from the victims, that the conspirators shot one of the victims in the residence, and that one of the victims was removed at gunpoint from the residence. The indictment further alleges that the conspirators used or caused the use of cell phones in demanding a ransom for the victim’s return.

The case was then presented to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution, and the federal grand jury returned the indictment in April of 2012. The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant United States Attorney Gloria A. Bedwell. Griffin and Robinson were arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Sonja F. Bivins on May 23, 2012, and Nobles was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Katherine P. Nelson on May 30, 2012. All three defendants were ordered detained prior to the trial setting during the criminal trial term in July 2012.

An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until and unless he or she is proven guilty at trial.

Agencies participating in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Mobile Police Department; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Chickasaw Police Department.