Second Superseding Indictment Adds Five Defendants and More Robbery Charges in Case of Jewelry Store Robbery Ring

PHILADELPHIA—A second superseding indictment was unsealed today charging five more defendants with participating in an alleged jewelry store robbery ring, announced U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger. The indictment alleges that the defendants committed eight jewelry store robberies between July 13, 2011 and November 3, 2012, of more than $3,502,544 worth of merchandise. Darrell Williams, 43; David Story, 45; Rufus Lawson, 47; Kenneth L. Williams, 51; Anthony Lockwood, 36; and Derrick Sherrill, 41, all of Philadelphia, are charged with conspiracy to commit robbery which interferes with interstate commerce. Those defendants are also charged, along with Brian Sheed, 21, and Amin Abdur-Rahe Shabazz, 22, both of Philadelphia, with robbery that interferes with interstate commerce. Darrell Williams, Story, Lawson, Kenneth L. Williams, and Lockwood are also charged with using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. The second superseding indictment adds the conspiracy charge, three robbery counts, and two firearms counts. Defendants Lawson, Sheed, and Shabazz were charged in the previous indictment.

The indictment details the robberies as follows: on July 13, 2011, Darrell Williams and David Story committed an armed robbery of the Tourneau jewelry store at 160 North Gulph Road, in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; on January 9, 2012, Darrell Williams, Story, Rufus Lawson, Anthony Lockwood, and Kenneth L. Williams robbed Govberg Jewelers, located at 292 Montgomery Avenue, in Ardmore, Pennsylvania; on February 22, 2012, Darrell Williams, Story, Lawson, and Kenneth L. Williams committed an armed robbery of Bernie Robbins Jewelers, located at 595 E. Lancaster Avenue, in Saint Davids, Pennsylvania; on April 13, 2012, Darrell Williams, Story, and Lawson committed a second armed robbery of the Tourneau store in King of Prussia; on August 22, 2012, Story committed a third robbery of the Tourneau store.

If convicted, Darrell Williams, David Story, Rufus Lawson, and Kenneth L. Williams each face a maximum sentence of life in prison; Darrell Williams and Story face a mandatory minimum sentence of 57 years; Lawson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 32 years; Kenneth Williams faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years; defendants Lockwood, Sherrill, Sheed, and Shabazz each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. All defendants also face possible fines, supervised release, and special assessments.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, Philadelphia Police Department, Radnor Township Police Department, Lower Merion Township Police Department, Upper Merion Township Police Department, Limerick Township Police Department, Upper Providence Township Police Department, Evesham Township (New Jersey) Police Department, Lawrence Township (New Jersey) Police Department, U.S. Federal Probation, Pennsylvania State Parole, and Philadelphia County Probation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. Zaleski.

An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.