Grand Jury Indicts Five for Robbing Pharmacies

DAYTON – A federal grand jury returned two indictments today charging five people with robbing two Middletown pharmacies and stealing prescription drugs including morphine, oxycodone and hydrocodone for the purpose of selling the drugs on the street.

Benjamin C. Glassman, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Field Office and Middletown Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw announced the indictments.

The grand jury charged two Dayton men, Calvin Cavonte Tribble, 19, and Savon Anthony Davis, 23, with attempted robbery of a pharmacy in Middletown on April 18, 2017 and robbing the pharmacy on April 19. In a separate indictment, the grand jury alleges that three Indianapolis men, Eric Lamont Bates, 20, Yasar Jamal Burnett, 18, and Brandon Lee Dawson, 19, conspired to rob another Middletown pharmacy of morphine and oxycodone on April 29, 2017.

The grand jury charged the defendants with conspiracy, robbery by force, interference with commerce by threats of violence, and possession with intent to distribute the drugs. Each crime is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment.

Middletown police arrested the defendants on the date of the robberies and filed state charges. All defendants appeared in federal court. Davis was released with conditions. The other four are being held without bond pending trial.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation of this case by the Middletown Police and the FBI, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Smith and Brent Tabacchi, who are representing the United States in the case.

An indictment contains allegations. All defendants should be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

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