Two Charged in Federal Court with Armed Robbery of Belleville Liquor Store

On September 17, 2013, a federal grand jury sitting in East St. Louis indicted Roderick L. Taylor, 22, and Charmonequette Reynolds, 21, with interference with commerce by robbery, which is a violation of the Hobbs Act, as well as with a charge of use of a firearm during a crime of violence, in connection with the armed robbery of Arena Liquor that occurred in Belleville on July 12, 2013, Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. Following a hearing held today, both defendants were ordered detained pending trial; that is, held without bond. Trial is scheduled for November 25, 2013.

If convicted of a violation of the Hobbs Act, the defendants each face a term in prison of up to 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, or both; and a term of supervised release of up to three years. If convicted of the offense of use of a firearm during a crime of violence, both defendants face a minimum term in prison of seven years up to a maximum term of life, consecutive to, meaning in addition to, any term of imprisonment imposed on the Hobbs Act violation, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of up to five years.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant that is comprised of the essential facts constituting the offense charged. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

This case is being investigated by the Belleville Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of the Metro East Armed Robbery Initiative recently announced by United States Attorney Wigginton. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Ali Summers for prosecution.