Tuscaloosa Man Gets 25 Years in Prison for String of Convenience Store Robberies

TUSCALOOSA—A federal judge today sentenced a Tuscaloosa man to 25 years in prison for his part in a string of armed gas station convenience store robberies in December 2011, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Schwein Jr.

U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced Juwan Hunter, 20, in accordance with a binding plea agreement Hunter entered with the government in July. The agreement specified a 25-year prison sentence for Hunter’s pleas of guilty to four Tuscaloosa County robberies and to brandishing a firearm during one of those robberies. Brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a minimum sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum sentence of life, and the sentence must be served after completion of any other sentence imposed for the crime.

Hunter pleaded guilty to robbery of the University Chevron on U.S. 11 in Cottondale on December 8, 2011; the Springbrook Chevron on East McFarland Boulevard in Tuscaloosa on December 16, 2011; the Coaling Marathon Oil on U.S. 11 in Coaling on December 18, 2011; and the Big Sandy Food Mart on Alabama 69 in Moundville on December 21, 2011. He pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm during the Coaling Marathon Oil robbery.

The FBI, Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s Office, Tuscaloosa Police Department, and the Coaling Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Montminy is prosecuting the case.